Harvard, other top U.S. colleges gain Chinese students despite tensions

Such enrollments rise at elite universities as other American schools see losses

Harvard University remains a popular destination for Chinese international students. (Photo by Kazuyuki Okudaira)

Nikkei staff writers

January 9, 2024 23:05 JST

PALO ALTO, U.S. -- The number of Chinese international students at Harvard and other top U.S. universities has climbed by a third over four years, a Nikkei study shows, despite ongoing frictions between China and the U.S.

Seven leading U.S. universities hosted over 12,600 Chinese international students in 2022, a 33% rise from 2018 levels. Data from some of the schools included exchange students. Chinese students made up 36% of the international students at the seven schools.