International Student Census
In the International Student Census an international student is defined as an individual who is enrolled in coursework at an accredited, degree-granting higher education institution in the United States on a temporary visa that allows for academic study. Individuals who do not meet this definition, such as immigrants (permanent resident with an I-151 or Green Card), U.S. citizens, undocumented immigrants, those with deferred action status, or refugees/asylees are not included. Individuals participating in Optional Practical Training (OPT) are considered students in the Department of Homeland Security’s Student and Exchange Visitor Information System and are included in the Open Doors international student totals. Data collection on individuals participating in OPT was expanded in Open Doors 2007.
The Open Doors 2020 survey was administered in February 2020 to 2,917 U.S. higher education institutions, with follow‑ups continuing through June 2020. In 2020, 1,666 institutions responded to the survey, yielding a 57 percent response rate. Data imputation was also carried out to account for non-responding institutions. The reporting institutions and those for which data were imputed together accounted for 71percent of all institutions surveyed. (See Imputation and Estimation for more details).
Historical table of Institutions Surveyed and Response Rate.
A total of 1,626 institutions (98 percent of responding institutions) reported international students in 2019/20. Key variables, including academic level, enrollment status, gender, visa status, field of study, and place of origin had response rates ranging from 89 percent to 99 percent. Response rates for primary source of funding and marital status were 58 percent and 28 percent, respectively.
Historical table of Key Variable Response Rates.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) data provide a reliable cross-check of the Open Doors international student totals in this report. When compared with the SEVIS totals that have been adjusted for differences in the data collection schedule and response categories, Open Doors figures are closely congruent with those reported to SEVIS by all U.S. higher education institutions hosting international students.
Detailed Student Data Collection:
Previously, Open Doors collected detailed data on fields of study by gender and academic level for all international students (known as the Individual Data Survey or Step 3 of the Annual Census) on a biannual basis from 1979/80 through 1997/98. The results were published as a separate volume titled Profiles: The Foreign Student in the United States from 1979/80 through 1991/92, then incorporated into Open Doors 1994/95 and Open Doors 1996/97. The Step 3 survey was discontinued in 1999 due to the declining response rate. Beginning with Open Doors 2010, IIE resumed collection of detailed data on the fields of study of students from the top 25 places of origin. The response rate for this variable was 84 percent in Open Doors 2020.
Open Doors is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by IIE.
IIE’s mission is to help people and organizations leverage the power of international education to thrive in today’s interconnected world. IIE’s work focuses on advancing scholarship, building economies, and promoting access to opportunity.
The U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity.
EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State network of over 430 international student advising centers in more than 175 countries and territories. EducationUSA is committed to promoting the diversity of U.S. higher education to help international students find their best fit.
USA Study Abroad is a U.S. Department of State entity focused on expanding and diversifying study abroad opportunities for U.S. students to gain critical skills in support of our national security and economic prosperity.
