According to the latest data released from the Institute of International Education (IIE), the students from Nepal to the US institutions have increased by 15.2% in 2007/08. Nepali students in the US cover about 1.4% of total foreign students. India tops the list with 15.2% followed by China with 13.0%. In the past year Nepal was ranked two points below at 13th rank with 7,754 students in American universities. Chart in Figure 1 compares the major suppliers of foreign students in the US with their percentage share and rankings with Nepal.

Figure 1: Foreign students in the US (2007/08).

Historically, students from Nepal have increased dramatically over time with about 1000 students in 1994/95 to 8,936 in 2007/08. Figure 2 shows the uphill trend of Nepali students choosing US as education destination.

Figure 1: Historical trend of Nepali students in the US over the last 12 years.

Majority (64%) of the students are enrolled in undergraduate level where possibility of external funding is rare as compared to higher level. Many of the students rely on odd jobs to pay their tuition fees. The level of study of Nepali students is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Level of study of Nepali students in the US.

These are the elite faction of Nepali youngsters that are getting educated in the world’s biggest economy. But it is well known fact that once graduated these students choose to stay in the US rather than return back to their home country. To me it looks like a two way sword – it looks good to see so many students getting a better education but it also is a brain drain Nepal can’t afford at this point of time.

Data source for all figures: opendoors.iienetwork.org