Vietnamese student enrollment in US hits post-pandemic record with over 36,000

This post-COVID record high reflects a sharp increase, with the number of Vietnamese students in the U.S. now exceeding 30,000 and nearing 40,000.

Earlier, the American Institute of International Education’s Open Doors 2024 report recorded 22,066 Vietnamese students enrolled at U.S. educational institutions in the 2023-24 academic year.

Brown said U.S. universities highly value these contributions and always welcome the participation of Vietnamese students in their vibrant academic communities.

The United States has more than 4,500 universities and colleges offering a wide range of academic programs.

The 2025 EducationUSA Higher Education Fair in Ho Chi Minh City, organized by the EducationUSA office of the U.S. Consulate General, featured 60 American universities.

Ding Huang, regional director of Asian admissions at St. John’s University, said the school’s international admissions policy has remained generally stable with no sudden changes.

He noted that St. John’s continues to offer three main pathways for international students: direct admission, the ELITE program that combines English-language support with academic coursework, and conditional admission.

According to him, international students at St. John’s often pursue majors in business, finance, risk management and insurance, as well as law and communications.

The university’s multicultural environment also draws many to fields such as international management and social sciences.

Chitra Saini, Southeast Asia regional admissions director at Southern Utah University (SUU), said the school’s admissions policy for international students has also remained stable, with no abnormal changes to academic or language requirements.

SUU maintains a flexible admissions model, offering direct admission while also providing pathways through intensive English programs and support for transferring credits from international institutions.

Saini noted that the broader U.S. landscape has seen some changes in visa management, which affected a small group of international students.

However, she stressed that most universities have closely monitored the situation and provided active support, affirming SUU’s commitment to safeguarding the legal study rights of foreign students.