The United States Remains a Top Choice for Indian Students Pursuing Higher Education Abroad: Open Doors Report 2019-2020

Almost 200,000 Indian students chose the United States as their destination to pursue higher education in the 2019-20 academic year, according to the Open Doors Report released today.  Indian students comprised nearly 20 percent of the over one million students from around the world and the United States has seen a steady increase in the number of undergraduate students from India.

Minister Counselor for Public Affairs, David Kennedy, said, “Over the last 10 years, the number of Indians studying in the United States has roughly doubled, and we know why:  the United States is the gold standard for higher education, providing practical application and experience that gives our graduates an advantage in the global economy.”

To assist Indian students, the U.S. Department of State offers advising services to prospective students through seven EducationUSA advising centers throughout India – in New Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai.  Early next year, a second EducationUSA Center is opening in Hyderabad hosted by Y-Axis Foundation.  All centers are staffed by EducationUSA advisors who offer accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date information about opportunities to study in the United States, helping Indian students find the best program and the right fit from among the 4,500 accredited higher-education institutions in the United States.

Students seeking additional facts about studying in the United States can download the EducationUSA India app, available for free on iOS and Android devices.  At the click of a button, the app provides the latest information about the college application process and is a quick and easy first step to planning higher education in the United States.

About Open Doors

The Institute of International Education (IIE) publishes the Open Doors report.  In fact, IIE has conducted an annual statistical survey on international students in the United States since its founding in 1919 and in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs since 1972.  Open Doors also reports on the number of international scholars at U.S. universities and international students enrolled in pre-academic Intensive English Programs.  Further details on the Open Doors 2018 surveys and their findings is on the Open Doors website.  The full 100+ page report will be available in January and can be ordered from IIE Books.  For more data, infographics and resources visit www.iie.org/OpenDoors.

About the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State builds relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through academic, cultural, sports, professional and private sector exchanges, as well as public-private partnerships and mentoring programs.  Approximately 50,000 participants annually embark on these exchange programs, including the flagship Fulbright Program and the International Visitor Leadership Program. ECA also sponsors the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarships for U.S. undergraduates with financial need, the Critical Language Scholarship Program in support of U.S. foreign language study abroad, and the EducationUSA network of over 400 advising centers worldwide, which provides information to students around the globe who wish to study in the United States. Since the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, ECA has revamped its exchange programs as appropriate to include part- or full-time virtual components or deferred exchanges until such time that they can resume.  For more information on the Department of State’s educational and cultural exchange activities, visit eca.state.gov.

About EducationUSA 

EducationUSA is a global network of advising centers in 170 countries that is supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).  In India, EducationUSA centers at the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) actively promote U.S. higher education by providing information about educational institutions in the U.S. and guidance to qualified individuals on how best to access the opportunities.  Link:  https://educationusa.state.gov/

United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF)

The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) – the Fulbright Commission of India, is a binational organization which promotes mutual understanding between the United States and India through educational and cultural exchanges.  USIEF administers the prestigious Fulbright-Nehru and other fellowships for outstanding students, scholars, and professionals of India and the U.S., enabling strategic dialogue, collaboration, and thought-leadership on critical issues affecting the two nations and the world at large.  USIEF – the Fulbright Commission of India.