Where international students study in the U.S.
When it comes to , international students have many colleges to choose from, all of which differ in size, location, cost, academic offerings and campus life, among other factors. But some colleges garner more interest from international students than others. International students at the 434 that reported enrollment data to U.S. News in an annual survey made up 4.6%, on average, of all undergraduates during the 2025-2026 academic year. Comparably, at the following 21 National Universities, sorted from lowest to highest, averaged 18.2%. Fifteen of these colleges — research-oriented schools that offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees — are on the East Coast, with total undergraduate enrollment averaging nearly 9,000.
Barry University (FL)
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 14%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 27% increase
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 3,232
U.S. News rank: 395-434
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California Institute of Technology
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 14%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 17% increase
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 987
U.S. News rank: 11
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Illinois Institute of Technology
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 14%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 7% decrease
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 3,135
U.S. News rank: 117 (tie)
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Northeastern University (MA)
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 14%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 7% decrease
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 17,432
U.S. News rank: 46 (tie)
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St. Thomas University (FL)
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 14%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 0%
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 4,502
U.S. News rank: 395-434
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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 14%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 0%
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 37,140
U.S. News rank: 36 (tie)
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Dartmouth College (NH)
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 15%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 7% increase
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 4,570
U.S. News rank: 13 (tie)
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Harvard University (MA)
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 15%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 7% increase
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 7,038
U.S. News rank: 3
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Johns Hopkins University (MD)
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 15%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 0%
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 6,356
U.S. News rank: 7 (tie)
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Emory University (GA)
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 16%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 0%
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 7,407
U.S. News rank: 24 (tie)
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Oakland City University (IN)
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 16%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 45% increase
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 502
U.S. News rank: 257 (tie)
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Columbia University (NY)
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 18%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 5% decrease
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 9,111
U.S. News rank: 15 (tie)
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Gannon University (PA)
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 18%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 29% increase
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 2,768
U.S. News rank: 257 (tie)
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University of Chicago (IL)
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 18%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 13% increase
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 7,519
U.S. News rank: 6
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Brandeis University (MA)
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 19%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 10% decrease
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 3,632
U.S. News rank: 69 (tie)
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Andrews University (MI)
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 21%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 5% increase
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 1,312
U.S. News rank: 242 (tie)
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Boston University (MA)
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 21%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 5% decrease
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 18,805
U.S. News rank: 42 (tie)
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Carnegie Mellon University (PA)
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 23%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 0%
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 7,824
U.S. News rank: 20 (tie)
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University of Rochester (NY)
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 23%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 0%
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 6,580
U.S. News rank: 46 (tie)
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New York University
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 26%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 0%
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 29,060
U.S. News rank: 32 (tie)
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The New School (NY)
Percentage of international students (fall 2025): 34%
International enrollment change from the prior fall: 0%
Degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2025): 6,682
U.S. News rank: 213 (tie)
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Learn more about studying in the U.S.
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National Universities with the most international undergrads
— The New School (NY): 34%
— New York University: 26%
— Carnegie Mellon University (PA): 23%
— University of Rochester (NY): 23%
— Andrews University (MI): 21%
— Boston University (MA): 21%
— Brandeis University (MA): 19%
— Columbia University (NY): 18%
— Gannon University (PA): 18%
— University of Chicago (IL): 18%
— Emory University (GA): 16%
— Oakland City University (IN): 16%
— Dartmouth College (NH): 15%
— Harvard University (MA): 15%
— Johns Hopkins University (MD): 15%
— Barry University (FL): 14%
— California Institute of Technology: 14%
— Illinois Institute of Technology: 14%
— Northeastern University (MA): 14%
— St. Thomas University (FL): 14%
— University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: 14%
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originally appeared on
Update 03/12/26: This story was published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.
