OPT program for F-1 students sees 12% growth in 2024-25 but the future hangs in the balance

The number of international students in the United States increased once more during the 2024–25 academic year, according to a new report from the Institute of International Education. The survey included more than 690 colleges and institutions in the United States.

A 3% growth in the international student count, including undergraduate, graduate, non-degree, and Optional Practical Training (OPT), was recorded in 2024-25. The growth comes on the back of a 7% growth seen in 2023-24 and the 12% growth in 2022-23.

This marks four years of international student increases since the COVID-19 pandemic. The international student enrollment has grown at the undergraduate level (+6%) and slightly declined at the graduate level (-2%).

The new enrollments, a subset of total enrollments, indicate a 5% decrease for international students studying at their college or university for the first time. 46% of institutions report an increase in new international student enrollment, 12% indicate the number to be the same as last year, and 42% report a decrease.

OPT continued to see record growth and gains by another 12% in 2024-25.

OPT is an important opportunity for international students to gain work experience in their fields of study after completing their degree. The 12% growth builds on the last two years of increases and is driven by large numbers of international graduate students, particularly in the STEM fields.

U.S. institutions report that OPT is important for recruiting international students interested in work experiences (77%) and enabling U.S. businesses to recruit and retain international student talent (70%). Further, 71% of institutions believe that OPT presents an economic benefit to U.S. businesses. 84% of U.S. institutions reported that if OPT were not available, international students would likely look to other destinations for their education abroad experiences.

India continues to be the most popular country for American colleges to recruit students from. 81% of colleges prioritize recruiting graduate students from India. In 2023-24, 331,602 students from India came to study in the United States, a 23% increase over the previous year.

With 5,379 hirings, Amazon was the most popular company for international students taking part in OPT before and after graduation in 2024.

The popular OPT program is in danger of being discontinued. OPT is an important opportunity for international students to gain work experience in their fields of study after completing their degree.

Joseph Edlow, Trump’s nominee for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) top job as the Director of USCIS, said he would end the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme that allows foreign graduates to work in America post completion of their studies.

US lawmakers have also introduced a bill in Congress titled ‘Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act of 2025’ to end the Optional Practical Training Program. The ‘Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act of 2025’ bill aims to eliminate the Optional Practical Training Program or any successor program, unless Congress expressly authorizes such a program.

Trump sent conflicting signals when he stated that he wants foreign students to stay after finishing their studies and start businesses in America, something he believes is not currently happening.