The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is once again a top destination for international students, according to data from this year’s Open Doors report. The report, released on Nov. 17 by the Institute of International Education (IIE), ranks Illinois second in the nation among public universities for the most international students.
“Illinois continues to draw thousands of international students and scholars who bring valuable perspectives and diverse insights to our global learning and research environment,” said Chancellor Charles L. Isbell, Jr. “International diversity is one of the things that makes our university experience truly unique and better equips all of our students, staff, and faculty to solve global challenges and thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.”
The 2025 Open Doors data reports that 12,474 international students were enrolled during the 2024-2025 academic year — with an additional 3,670 participating in Optional Practical Training — for a grand total of 16,144 students. Optional Practical Training permits students to be employed in the United States for one to three years after completion of studies. International Student and Scholar Services also reported that university departments hosted 1,813 international faculty, staff and scholars for teaching, research and administrative positions as of October 2025, an increase from last year’s report.
“We are immensely proud of our diverse and talented community of international students and scholars as well as our robust array of study abroad programs and on-campus global learning opportunities,” said Colleen Murphy, interim associate chancellor and vice provost for global affairs & strategies and Roger and Stephany Joslin Professor of Law. “When we integrate global perspectives, engage in international research, and foster inclusive collaboration, we in turn strengthen our academic, research, and public engagement missions – helping our students, faculty, and staff to develop the skills to thrive in any setting.”
Additionally, the Open Doors report includes data about the number of students studying abroad for academic credit.1,694 Illinois students earned academic credit through the university’s 300 study abroad programs in 60 countries in 2023-2024. Illinois is among the top 40 doctoral institutions by study abroad participation.
Findings from the 2025 Open Doors report include:
Illinois is second among public institutions for international students and sixth in the nation overall with 16,144 international students;
Almost a third of the top 25 is comprised of Big Ten institutions, with Illinois ranking second among its Big Ten peers for international student enrollment;
Students from India, China, South Korea, Canada, Vietnam, and Nepal are among the top countries of origin for international students studying in the United States;
Computer and Information Sciences, Engineering, Business, and Social Sciences are among the top fields of study for international students.
Italy, United Kingdom, Spain, France, and Japan were the top destinations for U.S. study abroad students in 2023-2024.
Illinois also produces annual reports on international student and scholar statistics as well as study abroad participation, which are made available online for informational purposes:
The Institute of International Education has conducted an annual census of international students in the United States since its founding in 1919. Open Doors has been published by the Institute since 1949 and has received support from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the U.S. Department of State since the 1970s. For more information on the IIE, visit: http://www.iie.org/en.