A report from Open Doors, published on Monday, November 13, 2023, has it that over 6,400 Ghanaian students pursued studies in the United States during the 2022-2023 academic year.
The Institute of International Education (IIE) releases the Open Doors Report annually, examining the statistics of international students in the United States.
“U.S. colleges and universities offer world-class educational opportunities and Ghanaian students in the United States are deepening the ties of friendship, family, and business between our countries. We are so happy to see Ghanaians seeking to learn, develop their skills, and return to Ghana to benefit their communities,” said U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Virginia Palmer.
Ghana has entered the top 25 countries globally for sending the highest number of students to the United States.
In the 2022-2023 academic year, the report indicates that a record 6,468 Ghanaians pursued studies in the United States, marking a significant 31.6 percent increase.
Among them, 4,140 were enrolled in graduate degree programs, positioning Ghana as the 14th largest source of graduate students to the United States, with a notable 38 percent rise from the previous year.
In the same period, Ghanaian students secured nearly $9 million in scholarships across 700 educational institutions spanning all 50 states.
To meet rising demand, the U.S. Embassy processed a record number of student visa applications in the last fiscal year.
The United States remains the leading destination for international students, hosting over one million (1,057,188) in the 2022-2023 academic year, reflecting a 12 percent increase from the prior year.
The majority of international students in the United States are pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), with mathematics and computer science standing out as the most popular fields of study.
This year, the U.S. Embassy in Ghana organized the largest-ever EducationUSA college fairs in Accra and Kumasi, attracting over 13,000 students, parents, and academic professionals.
Through EducationUSA, the U.S. Embassy in Ghana assists qualified individuals in navigating the college application process successfully, with advising centers in Accra and Kumasi at ACE Consult in Asokwa.
EducationUSA advisers offer personalized guidance both in-person and online to support Ghanaian students in their applications to accredited U.S. higher education institutions.
Over the past year, advisers from these centers facilitated applications for admission to hundreds of U.S. universities and colleges for thousands of Ghanaian students.