SEVP publishes 2017 international student data

WASHINGTON – Interested in knowing where international students are studying? Or where students engaged in practical training are employed? The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) published a series of data Thursday about international students studying in the U.S. during calendar year 2017. The data was extracted from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which houses information about international students and exchange visitors while they are in the U.S.

The data sets are divided into three categories: School Data, International Student Data, and Employer Data.

2017 School Data includes:

• Top 500 F-1 Schools by Number of Active Students
• All M-1 Schools by Number of Active Students
• Top 100 Kindergarten through Grade 12 Schools by Number of Active Students
• Top 100 Schools by Total Number of Students Participating in Optional Practical Training (OPT) 

2017 International Student Data includes:

• Countries of Citizenship by Total Number of Active Students
• Countries of Citizenship by Number of Active Students with STEM OPT Authorization
• Number of Active Students with Curricular Practical Training (CPT); OPT; or Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) OPT Authorization
• Top Five Countries of Citizenship for Secondary F-1 High School Students

2017 Employer Data includes:

• Top 200 Employers for Post-Completion OPT Students
• Top 200 Employers for STEM OPT Students
• Top 200 Employers of CPT Students

In addition to 2017 data, the public can also review trends in the number of international students engaged in practical training programs over the last 10 years.

SEVP plans to publish calendar year 2018 data during the first quarter of 2019. Future years’ data will publish in the first quarter of the following year. This will enable the public to review yearly trends in the international student population.

SEVP monitors more than one million international students pursuing academic or vocational studies (F and M visa holders) in the United States and their dependents. It also certifies schools and programs that enroll these students. The U.S. Department of State monitors exchange visitors (J visa holders) and their dependents and oversees exchange visitor programs.

Both use SEVIS to protect national security by ensuring that students, visitors and schools comply with U.S. laws. SEVP also collects and shares SEVIS information with government partners, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, so only legitimate international students and exchange visitors enter the United States.

HSI reviews SEVIS records for potential violations and refers cases with possible national security or public safety concerns to its field offices for further investigation. Additionally, SEVP’s Analysis and Operations Center analyzes student and school records for administrative compliance with federal regulations related to studying in the United States.