Indian student population in the US rising driven by computer science discipline 

Driven by digital transformation brought about by AI and data analytics, more Indian students are enrolling in Mathematics/Computer Science courses in the US while adoption of Engineering as a field of study has declined.

businessline’s analysis of six years of the Open Doors report shows that share of Indian students pursuing courses in Math/Computer science grew from 37 per cent in 2019 to 42.9 per cent in 2024 but those in engineering declined from 34.2 per cent in 2019 to 24.5 per cent in 2024.

Overall, the number of Indian students in the US has been rising steadily. In 2024, India became the top country for international students in the US for the first time since 2009, overtaking China. Indian students in the US saw a 23 per cent YoY increase in academic year 2024 while China, which has held the top spot historically, saw a 4% decline.

Career consultant and analyst Jayaprakash Gandhi attributed this rise to specific educational advantages in the US. “Many students are drawn to the US because of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) option. They see this as an opportunity to stay back, work, and even get sponsored by companies if they perform well,” he said. Data shows a 41 per cent jump in Indian students on OPT in the US from 2023 to 2024. Most Indian institutions do not yet offer the centres of excellence or research facilities needed to make students ready for global technological revolutions in fields like AI and digital advancements, he added.

Experts note that while political factors may impose some restrictions in the year ahead, opportunities for higher education in the US remain strong. Indian students can expect continued support from US universities as their growing pool is essential to maintaining enrollment levels in the US, they said.

The writer is an intern with businessline

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