Pakistan Higher Education

Opportunities for U.S. Institutions

Recruitment of International Students from Pakistan

According to the Open Doors Report issued by the Institute of International Education (https://opendoorsdata.org/fact_sheets/student-mobility/), Pakistan ranked as the 15th largest source of international students in the United States during 2023-2024, with 19.2% of its population between ages 15-24, and contributing approximately $475 million to the U.S. economy with 10,988 students enrolled in U.S. institutions. Pakistan student enrollment in the United States has experienced consistent growth, increasing by 57% since the 2016-2017 academic year. Pakistani students pursuing master’s and Ph.D. programs have demonstrated a marked preference for international study, with UNESCO’s International Mobile Student Indicator reporting that over 90,000 Pakistani students studied abroad in 2022 (latest data), underscoring substantial recruitment potential for U.S. institutions.

Of the 10,988 Pakistani students currently enrolled in U.S. institutions, 44.9% are pursuing graduate studies, with undergraduate students accounting for 33.4%, and 20.2% participating in Optional Practical Training OPT). Pakistani students studying at research-focused doctoral universities are generally concentrated at institutions in Texas, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, and California.

Higher Education Partnerships with Leading Universities in Pakistan

Pakistan’s significant pool of students is fueling a strong demand for higher education, creating opportunities for U.S. institutions to expand their global presence through strategic academic partnerships with Pakistani institutions to serve students who may be unable to attend school in the United States, but nonetheless desire to benefit from American university courses and content. Partnering with reputable schools and universities in Pakistan allows U.S. institutions the opportunity to tap into this rising demand by potentially launching dual-degree programs, such as 2+1 and 3+1 formats, in high-demand fields like business, medicine, engineering, and technology. These programs provide students with affordable access to an American academic curriculum while laying a foundation for long-term institutional relationships and potential future-year attendance by Pakistani students in the United States.

For example, Arizona State University recently partnered with Pakistan’s National Institute of Technology in Lahore (https://www.nit.edu.pk/), a private undergraduate institute in Pakistan, to deliver an American-style curriculum and educational experience. This type of engagement demonstrates how partnerships can serve as a gateway to academic and economic collaboration, benefiting both countries.

Establishing meaningful partnerships can serve to build long-term economic ties between the United States and Pakistan, while helping U.S. institutions export their content and intellectual property to Pakistani students seeking to benefit from the American educational system.  
 

For more information or opportunities, please contact CS Pakistan’s Commercial Specialist: Muhammad.Ayazkhan@trade.gov