The number of Nepali students in the U.S. continues to grow year by year, with a particular interest in fields like science, technology, engineering, management, and aviation training for higher education.
According to data from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for January 2025, the number of Nepali students studying in the United States has reached 16,933. Among these, 10,430 are male and 6,503 are female. This number has decreased compared to January 2024, when it was 20,153, and later increased to 23,435 in March 2024.
Nepali students are enrolled in various levels of education, with notable numbers in undergraduate (7,441), graduate (4,666), and PhD programs (3,140).
Texas, a Republican state, has become a hub for Nepali students, with 3,416 students currently studying there. New York follows with 956, Ohio has 842, Minnesota has 738, and Kentucky has 696 Nepali students.

Additionally, 153 Nepali students have come to the U.S. for language training, while 72 students are enrolled in aviation schools. Nepali students are also present in vocational schools and other specialized programs. Other states with significant numbers of Nepali students include California (514), Illinois (546), Missouri (473), and Pennsylvania (420).
According to the 2024 Open Doors Report, the U.S. has set a new record by welcoming 1.13 million international students. During the 2023-24 academic year, 16,742 Nepali students enrolled in U.S. universities, making Nepal the 10th largest source country for international students in the U.S. This report shows a 10.9% increase in Nepali students compared to the previous year, representing 1.5% of the total international student population in the U.S.
In the 2022-23 academic year, there were 15,090 Nepali students in the U.S. Previously, the number of Nepali students was 11,799 in 2021-22, 11,172 in 2020-21, 12,730 in 2019-20, 13,299 in 2018-19, 13,270 in 2017-18, and 11,607 in 2016-17.
According to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, 13,187 Nepali students were granted U.S. student visas in the 2024 fiscal year, more than double the number from the previous fiscal year (2023).