From Tragedy to Triumph: The Surprising Rise of India’s Love Affair with American Higher Education

In recent years, the United States has become a popular destination for Indian students seeking higher education opportunities. This trend has been further highlighted by the recent disappearance of Ishika Thakore, a 17-year-old Indian-American student who went missing in Frisco and was later found by the police.

However, this positive news was overshadowed by the tragic death of Mohammed Abdul Arfath, a 25-year-old student from Hyderabad who was pursuing a Master’s degree in the US. His death added to a concerning trend of deaths involving Indian and Indian-origin students in the United States. Despite these tragic occurrences, the US remains a top choice for Indian students looking to further their education.

In fact, since the beginning of 2024, there have been at least 11 reported deaths of Indian or Indian-origin students in the US. However, this did not deter over 2.6 lakh Indian students from migrating to the US during the 2022-2023 academic session, marking a 35% increase from the previous session. This growing popularity of the United States as an educational destination for Indian students is likely due to its high standard of living, diverse culture, and abundant job opportunities.