In 2023, US universities admitted 1,094,792 international students. A select number of universities in the US admit a larger number of these international students.
If you are wondering which universities in the US are most receptive to foreign students, this post is for you. Today, we count down to the top 20 universities in the USA for international students.
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Table of Contents
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Let’s begin.
Cornell University, New York
This prestigious Ivy League University in Ithaca, New York enrolled over 7200 international students in 2018. The university was founded in 1865 and has a total undergraduate enrolment of 15,182 students. The university ranks as the ninth-best university in the US. Cornell is also well known for its top-ranked College of Veterinary Medicine and the highly esteemed School of Hotel Administration. Tuition fees at the university cost $57,222.
Ohio State University, Columbus
Ohio State University was established in 1870 as an agricultural and mechanical college. More than 50,000 students study across 15 colleges at its main 1,900-acre campus. The institution also consistently hosts international students, enrolling over 8000 international students in the 2018 academic year. The institution ranks as the 70th-best university in the world on the Times Higher Education list. Tuition fees here are in the range of $29,000.
University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis – part of the University of California system – is located in the city of Davis, in northern California’s Yolo County. UC Davis offers around 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programmes to approximately 35,000 students. The student-to-staff ratio at the university is 18:1. It is organised into four main colleges. All freshmen have access to housing, and after their first year students typically move off campus or live in university apartments. The University ranks as the 55th-best university in the world and has an out-of-state tuition of $42,433.
University of California, Irvine
Established in 1965 and part of the University of California (which comprises 10 institutions), UC Irvine is the only research university in Orange County that’s in the Association of American Universities (AAU). Offering 192 degree programmes, the university attracts a total of over 30,000 students. They were 8,064 international students enrolled in the institution in the 2018/2019 session making it one of the most sought-after institutions for international students. Tuition fees for out-of-state students are pegged at $41,752.
Carnegie Mellon University
The University is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and is a private, global research university. It is one of just 25 universities in the World Economic Forum’s Global University Leaders Forum. The university lays claim to many examples of ground-breaking inventions and pioneering research into brain science, data, start-ups and driverless cars, among others. The institution is also highly prominent globally, taking the 27th spot on the Times higher education rankings for 2020. International students made up 22% of the total enrolled students for the 2018/2019 session. The tuition fee is $53,910.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
The University of Michigan Ann Arbor is extremely popular with international students enrolling over 8700 international students in 2018. At least 50 countries are represented on the University’s campus with Chinese nationals being the most represented. The university is ranked 21st best globally. Tuition fees here will set you back by around $49,000.
University of Washington
The next university on our list is the University of Washington which in 2018 enrolled 9,311 international students. The University is one of the largest and most prestigious higher education institutions on the west coast of the US. It has a highly respected medical school, offering training in dentistry, medicine and public health, serving medical centres across the Pacific North West and Alaska. It ranks 26th globally and the tuition fee is $34,791.
Pennsylvania State University, University Park
Pennsylvania State University is one of the “Public Ivies”: a publicly-funded institution. It provides a standard of education comparable to that offered by the elite Ivy League. It is also one of the largest universities in the US. The university welcomes international students, enrolling 9,396 in 2018. The tuition fee is $33,664.
University of Texas, Dallas
Founded in 1969, The University of Texas at Dallas has evolved into one of the top research institutions in Texas and its programs in engineering and the biomedical sciences have gained national attention. The University has a student-faculty ratio of 23:1. The university ranks best in the world among universities under 50 years. International students make up a large chunk of the student population at 9400 in 2018. The tuition fee for out-of-state students is $25,656.
University of California, Berkeley
With an international student enrollment of almost 12,000, the University of California, Berkeley has set its sights on the international student market. The University ranks as the 13th-best University in the world and is one of the most prestigious state universities in the US. The tuition fee here is $42,184.
Boston University
The University is one of the most diverse in the US, welcoming students from over 130 countries. It has around 10,000 faculty and staff, 17 schools and colleges and 250 fields of study located across two campuses and numerous international programmes, with facilities concentrated mainly on its impressive Charles River campus. Boston University is the 61st-best university in the world and offers excellent academic and social education.
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego popularly known by its abbreviated form UCSD, is among the US Public Ivy colleges, whose objective is to provide students with the same quality of education as can be found in Ivy League’s private colleges. The University’s School of Medicine and Engineering are prominent in the US. The University ranks as 31st globally and has a tuition fee of $42,032.
Purdue University, West Lafayette
Purdue University has a large international student population making up 22% of enrollment in 2018. The university’s engineering programme is one of the most reputed and competitive in the US. Twenty-three Purdue alumni have become astronauts, including Neil Armstrong the first person to walk on the moon – and Eugene Cernan – the last person to walk on the moon. The tuition fee at the prestigious university is $28,794.
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) offers opportunities for inquiry, discovery, and education. Undergraduate research projects are available as early as freshman year, and more than half of UCLA students graduate with research experience in the humanities, social sciences, or STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines. UCLA is the 17th-best university in the world and has a tuition fee of $41,275.
Arizona State University – Tempe
Arizona State University is a comprehensive research university and one of the largest public universities in the United States, with more than 80,000 students. The University was rated as the most innovative in 2016 and currently has two Nobel Laureates among its teaching staff. 21% of students at the University are from abroad and the tuition fee is $27,372.
University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois has about 17 colleges offering about 150 different study programmes. The university is one of the original 37 public land-grant institutions that were founded when Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act in 1862. The University ranks as the 48th-best university in the world. 13,497 international students were enrolled into the university in 2018 making them 24% of the total student population. The tuition fee is $34,719.
Columbia University
Columbia is the oldest university in the state of New York and one of the oldest in the US. The University was founded in 1754 by King George II of England. Columbia University’s Business School, Teachers College, Law School and College of Physicians and Surgeons are some of the most renowned in the world. The University holds an enviable 16th spot on the Times Higher Education rankings. 15,897 international students were admitted to study in the 2018/2019 session. The tuition fee is $51,640.
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Northeastern University – Boston
With International students making up almost 35% of the student population, Northeastern University Boston is a top destination for most international students. Northeastern University describes itself as a “global, experiential, research university built on a tradition of engagement with the world.” The tuition fee at the University is $49,497.
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California opened for business in Los Angeles in 1880. Although it initially welcomed only 53 students, USC has since grown into an internationally renowned research university and the largest private-sector employer in its city. The University is the second top destination for international students, enrolling over 16,000 students in the 2018/2019 session.
New York University
Welcome to the top destination for international students in 2020, New York University. NYU is one of the biggest private higher education institutes in the United States. After almost two centuries of development, the institution became an academic centre that aims to set trends in global research and nurture talent from all the around the globe. It grants a significant amount to students in financial aid annually, in addition to generous funding for research. The university ranks 29th globally. The tuition fee is $50,464.
There you have it, the top 20 Universities in the USA for international students in 2020. Be sure to share this post with someone who wants to in study in the US. If you are yet to subscribe to the After School Africa channel, now is a good time to subscribe.
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