The number of Nigerian students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities reached 20,029 for the 2023/2024 academic year, representing a 13.5% increase compared to the previous year.
According to the 2024 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange, Nigeria positions as Africa’s leading source of international students and ranks the country as the 7th largest globally.
The report highlights a record-breaking 1,126,690 international students studying at U.S. institutions this year, marking an all-time high for international enrollment.
The milestone coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Open Doors Report, which serves as a benchmark for assessing international educational exchange in the United States.
The US Embassy, in a statement on Tuesday, highlighted the important role Nigerian students play in enriching the academic and cultural environment of American universities.
“Nigeria, with 20,029 students, reinforces its position as the top sending country from Africa and the seventh largest globally,” the statement read.
“More than 55% of Nigerian students in the US are pursuing graduate-level studies, a testament to their academic excellence and commitment to higher education.”
The report also emphasised Sub-Saharan Africa’s rapid growth in international student mobility, with a 13% increase for the 2023/2024 academic year, following an 18% rise in the previous year.
This makes the region the fastest-growing in terms of student migration for the second consecutive year.
“The influx of Nigerian students is a testament to the robust educational ties between the US and Nigeria,” the report stated.
