Vietnamese Students in U.S. increase for 16th Straight Year

The report for the 2016-2017 academic year (AY) shows that Viet Nam remains the sixth leading country of origin for all international students in the United States, with 22,438 students, up 1,035 students since last AY 2015-16, a nearly 5% increase. 

The data shows that 1,078,822 international students came to the United States in the 2016-2017 AY, a 3.4% increase over last year.  International students now make up 5.3% of all higher education students in the U.S., up slightly from 5.2% last year.  

Of the 22,438 Vietnamese students in the United States, 68% were undergraduates, 15.6% were graduate level students, 9% enrolled in Optional Practical Training (OPT), and the remaining 7.4% were pursuing non-degree programs.  

The data also revealed that Viet Nam is becoming a more popular destination for American students.  In AY2016-17, Viet Nam welcomed 1,012 students from the United States, an increase of 9.8%.  

Coming on the heels of President Trump’s visit, this data demonstrates the increasingly strong ties between the United States and Viet Nam.  As President Trump noted in his speech at the APEC CEO Summit, “Vietnamese students rank among the best students in the world.  And that is very impressive.”  

Education remains a cornerstone of the United States – Viet Nam bilateral relationship, and the U.S. will continue to promote opportunities for Vietnamese students to study in the United States through Education USA and our American Centers in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.  

 By Thuy Dung