Written by Colin McEvoy | November 17, 2025 | SHARE
U.S. international student enrollment has reached a historic high of nearly 1.2 million in 2024–25, with new national and Lehigh data showing rising participation, strong economic impact, and continued growth in global learning.
The number of international students in the United States reached its highest level on record in 2024–25, with about 1.2 million students, according to the Open Doors 2025 Report, released this week by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and U.S. State Department.
The total of 1,177,766 international students represents a 6.1% increase over the previous year, driven by continued growth in Optional Practical Training (OPT) participation even as graduate-level enrollment dipped slightly. This marks the highest total number of international students since IIE began tracking this data in 1948.
Lehigh University had 967 international students from 87 countries in 2024–25, as well as 158 scholars from 41 countries. Lehigh welcomed 615 international graduate students, a 2.1% increase over the previous year, while the university’s 352 international undergraduate students marked a 10.6% decrease compared to the prior year.
"These numbers reaffirm how essential international students are to Lehigh’s academic strength and cultural vitality,” said Cheryl Matherly, Vice President & Vice Provost for International Affairs. “They bring extraordinary talent and wide-ranging perspectives that enrich our classrooms and our community. “
Those Lehigh figures were included in the new 2025 Global Data Reports, which were released by Lehigh’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) on Nov. 17 for International Education Week (IEW). Separate reports have been released for international students & scholars, education abroad, and fellowship advising.
The full reports can be read or downloaded at global.lehigh.edu/datareports2025.
The nationwide 2024–25 total includes 883,513 enrolled students and 294,253 on OPT, according to the Open Doors report. Undergraduate international student enrollment increased by 5.3%, while graduate enrollment decreased by 14.5%, according to IIE.
OPT is a type of U.S. work authorization that allows international students on F-1 visas to gain post-graduate professional experience in their field of study, enhancing their skills and employability through real-world training and application.
Significant economic contributions
Last year, Lehigh’s international students contributed $56.4 million to the Lehigh Valley economy, supporting 594 jobs, according to NAFSA: International Education Association.
Nationally, the 1.2 million international students in the United States contributed $42.9 billion to the economy and supported 356,000 jobs. In Pennsylvania, the state had 50,848 international students enrolled in the 2024-25 academic year, contributing $2.1 billion to the economy and supporting 50,848 jobs.
Lehigh’s Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) supports a total of 1,707 students, scholars, and their families. Lehigh’s international student community also includes 615 graduate students, 352 undergraduate students, 189 OPT extension students (students who work in the U.S. in their field of study for up to three years after graduation), 158 scholars, and 136 dependents (family members on H1B2 visas).
India remains the top country of origin among international students throughout the United States, with 363,019 students in 2024–25, a 9.1% increase from the previous year. China is second with 265,919 students, a 4.1% decline from the prior year.
At Lehigh University, the top countries of origin for undergraduate students in 2024–25 were China (138), Vietnam (47), India (14), Canada (9), and Bangladesh (9). For graduate students, the top countries of origin were China (291), India (73), Iran (36), Nigeria (22), Nepal (14), and Zimbabwe (14).
Study abroad
A total of 298,180 U.S. students studied abroad in 2023–24, a 6.2% increase over the previous year. Open Doors study abroad data are reported on a one-year delay, and despite the growth reflected in 2023–24, study abroad figures have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Nationwide, the top destinations were Italy, Spain, the UK, France, Japan, Ireland, Germany, Greece, Australia, and South Korea. Although Europe remains the dominant region, the report notes growing interest in Asia. Japan in particular has seen fast growth as a desired destination, with a 9.1% increase over last year.
At Lehigh, the 789 total study abroad experiences for Lehigh students included 268 Lehigh faculty-taught courses, 72 Iacocca International Internship Program experiences, 70 Global Social Impact Fellows, 283 semester, 34 short immersion, 47 external transfer credit, six Lehigh-directed independent experiences, and nine through Lehigh Launch in Chile.
Spain was the top destination for Lehigh University’s study abroad students, with 155 experiences in that country, according to Lehigh’s global data report. Other top destinations included Italy (81), United Kingdom (57), Greece (42), Germany (39), France (32), Canada (27), Japan (27), and Ireland (25).
Nationally, summer and short programs continue to be the dominant duration for study abroad. A total of 32% of students studied abroad for a semester, and 2% did so for a full year, with the remaining 66% studying abroad for a shorter duration.
Commitment to accessibility
Lehigh is committed to making global experiences accessible to students from all financial backgrounds. In total, 23% of Lehigh students who studied abroad were eligible for Pell Grants, a slightly larger proportion than the 21% of overall Lehigh students who are Pell-eligible.
Several programs and initiatives exist to reduce the financial burden for students with limited resources. A total of 49% of Lehigh’s study abroad participants this year had some level of financial need.
“As we continue to expand opportunities for global learning and ensure that every student has access to international experiences, we are committed to preparing future leaders who can navigate and shape an increasingly interconnected world,” Matherly said.
Additionally, 120 Pell Grant recipients have won Gilman Scholarships since 2017, according to the global data report for Lehigh’s Office of Fellowship Advising. OFA works with Lehigh students, faculty, staff, and alumni to prepare nationally competitive scholarship and fellowship applications.
A total of $2.5 million in awards have been given through OFA’s efforts since 2016, and 250 Lehigh students, faculty, and alumni have won nationally-competitive scholarships since spring 2017. OFA has an overall win rate of 44.1%, according to the reports.