The number of Bangladeshi students pursuing higher education in the United States has reached an all-time high, with over 17,000 currently enrolled in US institutions, according to the 2024 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange.
As a result, Bangladesh has jumped from the 13th to the 8th largest source of international students in the US within a single year, as stated by the US Embassy today.
This marks a significant 26 percent increase in Bangladeshi student enrollment compared to the previous academic year (2022-2023), making Bangladesh the country with the second-highest overall growth in international student numbers in the US.
Over the past decade, the number of Bangladeshi students in the United States has surged by more than 250 percent. In the 2013-2014 academic year, there were 4,802 Bangladeshi students in the US, a figure that has risen to 17,099 in 2023-2024.
The annual Open Doors Report, jointly released by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Institute of International Education, tracks the number of international students at US universities, as well as those enrolled in pre-academic intensive English programmes.
Overall, international student enrollment in the United States reached a record 1,126,690 in the 2023-2024 academic year, reflecting a 7 percent increase from the previous year. Graduate student numbers hit a historic high of 502,291, up 8 percent, while enrollment in post-graduation practical work experience programs surged by 22 percent. Community colleges experienced their fastest growth in over 25 years, with enrollment jumping 13 percent to 59,315.
The influx of international students in 2023 contributed over $50 billion to the US economy and supported more than 368,000 jobs, according to the US Department of Commerce.
The US State Department reaffirmed its commitment to fostering international education and student exchange, underscoring its critical role in driving innovation, strengthening economic growth, enhancing diplomacy, and ensuring national security.
Daily Star
