Open Doors Report shows Nigeria ranked 10th largest students sending country worldwide

A new report “Open Doors on International Educational Exchange has shown that there was a 12.3 per cent 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 per cent of all African students studying in the United States. This means that Nigeria remains the leading source of students from Africa and the 10th largest country worldwide sending international students in the United States. According to the report Nigerian students in the United States primarily study at the graduate level, with the remaining 31 per cent enrolled in undergraduate studies, 17 percent pursuing optional practical training, and 2 per cent in non-degree programs or short-term studies.  

The report said that an increasing number of students are crossing the globe 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, finds that new international student enrolment in the United States has rebounded and increased by 80 percent, raising the total number of international students enrolled in U.S. institutions by 4 percent. This strong rebound and growth confirms that the United States remains the destination of choice in higher education, with over 948,000 international students. International 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. 

Open Doors 2022, released by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, highlights the continued competitiveness of the U.S. higher education sector as a destination of choice for international students. It also captures the growing interest in international educational exchange among U.S. students. The release of the new Open Doors data marks the celebration of International Education Week, a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. 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 report is published annually by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.