Nigeria ranks 10th for student numbers in US schools

By YANGE IKYAA

A new report has indicated that Nigeria is ranked 10th for the number of students that move from the West African nation to study in the United States, with the numbers rising by 12.3 percent to 14,438 in the 2021/2022 academic session.

An increasing number of students are across the globe travel to the United States to gain practical international experience that they can apply in their careers and life in a global society.

The 2022 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, which was released on Monday, November 15 says that new international student enrollment in the US has rebounded and increased by 80 percent, raising the total number of international students enrolled in US institutions by 4 percent.

This strong rebound and growth confirms that the US remains the destination of choice in higher education, with over 948,000 international students.

These students are returning to in-person studies in the United States, with 90 percent of all enrolled students attending in-person classes. The return to campuses allows international students to build life-long connections with American peers, increase collaboration within and across fields of study, and grow America’s international partnerships to address current and global challenges.

The new Open Doors Report indicates a 12.3 percent increase in the number of students from Nigeria studying in the United States for the 2021/2022 academic year. This represents a total of 14,438 Nigerian students, which is 33 percent of all African students studying in the United States.

It also means that Nigeria remains the leading source of students from Africa and the 10th largest country worldwide sending international students in the United States.

Nigerian students in the US primarily study at the graduate level, with the remaining 31 percent enrolled in undergraduate studies, 17 percent pursuing optional practical training, and 2 percent in non-degree programs or short-term studies.

Open Doors 2022, which is routinely released by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, highlights the continued competitiveness of the US higher education sector as a destination of choice for international students.

It also captures the growing interest in international educational exchange among US students. The release of the new Open Doors data marks the celebration of International Education Week, a joint initiative of the US Department of State and the US Department of Education, to prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from other countries to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States.

The Open Doors report is published annually by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.