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The number of Nigerians studying in the United States rose last academic year to a 7-year high in the 2018/2019 academic year.
Nigerians in American tertiary institutions rose 5.8 percent to 13,423 in the 2018/19 academic year from 12,693 in the 2017/18 year, according to the 2019 Open Doors report published by the Institute of International Education and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, released this morning.
According to BusinessDay analysis of the figures, it is highest number of Nigerian students in the USA since the 2013 session. Nigerian students studying in the US has increased steadily from 7,316 in the 2012/2013 academic year to the current level.
Globally, Nigeria moved up by two places ranking 11th position from its previous ranking of 13th among the countries with the highest number of students in America, while China, India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Canada are the top five countries, according to the report.
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In the sub-Saharan Africa region, Nigeria ranked as the number one source of African students studying in the U.S, followed by Ghana with 3,661. Cote d’ Ivoire came in third with 1,392, Bukina Faso fourth with 514, while Senegal had 504 students.
The report highlights the continued competitiveness of the U.S. higher education sector as a destination of choice for international students and the growing interest in international educational exchange among U.S. students.
