WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of international students attending U.S. universities experienced a remarkable surge last year, bouncing back from the impact of the pandemic. According to a study conducted by the State Department and the Institute of International Education, there was a 12% increase in international student enrollment during the 2022-23 academic year, marking the largest single-year growth in over four decades. The study also revealed that more than 1 million students from abroad chose to pursue their education in the United States, the highest number since the 2019-20 school year.

A significant driving force behind this growth was a notable 35% rise in students coming from India. American colleges welcomed nearly 269,000 students from India, which is the highest number ever recorded and second only to China in terms of international student enrollment. Many Indian students chose to pursue graduate programs, particularly in science, technology, and business fields.

"The U.S. remains the preferred destination for international students seeking to study abroad, a status it has maintained for over a century," remarked Allan E. Goodman, CEO of the Institute of International Education, emphasizing the enduring appeal of U.S. universities.

China, while still accounting for the largest number of foreign students in the U.S. with 290,000, experienced a decline in enrollments for the third consecutive year. This change reflects a gradual shift in international student preferences. Amid strained international relations and growing competition from universities in the United Kingdom and Canada, demand from China has waned. Prolonged travel restrictions in Asia during the pandemic have also been identified as a contributing factor to the decrease in Chinese students.

Concurrently, U.S. institutions have actively focused on recruiting students from India. This approach stems from the United Nations' prediction that India's population would surpass China's, making it the world's largest, this year. As a result, Indian students now outnumber Chinese students in 24 U.S. states, including popular destinations like Illinois, Texas, and Michigan.

The study found that graduate programs maintained their appeal for international students for the second consecutive year, with a 21% increase in enrollment. Undergraduate enrollments saw a modest 1% rise. This marks a reversal of the previous decade's trend, where undergraduate students accounted for higher numbers.

Math and computer science programs were the most popular among international students, outpacing other subjects with a 20% enrollment boost compared to the previous year. Engineering and business programs followed closely behind. Collectively, these three fields accounted for over half of all international students in the United States.

The surge in international student enrollment brings figures closer to pre-pandemic levels when the peak was reached in 2018 with almost 1.1 million students. Following a significant drop due to COVID-19 disruptions, the rebound seems to be continuing, with an additional 8% increase in international enrollment expected this fall, according to a recent survey.

While international students comprise only 5.6% of all college students during the 2022-23 academic year, their presence plays a pivotal role in U.S. higher education. University leaders highlight the importance of global exchange facilitated by international students, who also contribute to the financial stability of institutions. International students typically pay higher tuition rates, effectively subsidizing college for domestic students.

In addition to China and India, other top nations sending students to the U.S. included South Korea, Canada, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Nigeria. The previous academic year also witnessed record-breaking numbers of students from Bangladesh, Colombia, Ghana, Italy, Nepal, Pakistan, and Spain.

While the enrollment of international students continues to rise, many American colleges are grappling with declining domestic student enrollments. Overall enrollment across colleges has remained slumped following the pandemic's impact, with a 3.6% decrease in freshman enrollment reported for the fall of 2023, according to a separate study by the National Student Clearinghouse.