China has been the top country of origin for international students in the U.S. for more than a decade, making it a key source of revenue for many American universities and colleges.
- The educational exchange between the two countries has also long been a pillar of U.S.-China relations.
By the numbers: The overall number of Chinese students, including those enrolled at U.S. higher education institutions or on Optional Practical Training (OPT), nearly tripled over the last decade, from less than 130,000 in the 2009-10 academic year to more than 370,000 in 2019-20, according to