Immigrants with University Degrees in the United States

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of immigrants with university degrees in the United States. This phenomenon highlights the growing importance of highly skilled immigrants within American society, not only in terms of numbers but also in the impact they have on various sectors such as technology, medicine, and research.

Growth of University-Educated Immigrants

2018-2022: During this period, 48% of newly arrived immigrants had a university degree.

Total Population: Immigrants make up 17% of adults with a university education in the country, although they account for 14% of the total U.S. population.

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This growth in the immigrant population with higher education has been steady over the past decades. Since 1990, the number of immigrants with university degrees has increased by 56%, surpassing the growth of the native-born population with the same educational level.

Paths to Obtain a University Education

University-educated immigrants come to the United States through different pathways:

• Temporary visas for specialized workers, such as the H-1B visa.
• Humanitarian migration or as family members of U.S. residents.
• Pursuing university studies in the U.S. after settling in the country.

In 2022, 35% of adult immigrants (14.1 million) had a university degree, a figure very close to the 36% of U.S.-born adults.

Specialized Occupations

Immigrants play an essential role in highly specialized occupations:

• Computer hardware engineers: 44% are immigrants.
• Research scientists in computing: 34% are immigrants.
• Physicians: 29% are immigrants.

Key States for University-Educated Immigrants

Some states stand out for concentrating most immigrants with university degrees:

• California: With 3.1 million, it hosts 22% of this population.
• Florida, Texas, and New York: Each has 1.4 million university-educated immigrants.

Together, these four states represent more than half of all university-educated immigrants in the United States.

Demographic Profiles

University-educated immigrants tend to be younger and of working age. In 2022, 68% of them were between 25 and 54 years old, compared to 61% of U.S.-born individuals.

Regarding their origin, most come from Asia and Latin America:

• India: 14%
• China and Hong Kong: 8%
• Philippines: 7%
• Mexico: 6%

English Proficiency and Educational Levels

• English proficiency: 74% of immigrants with university education speak English “very well” or only English.
• Advanced degrees: 15% of university-educated immigrants hold professional or doctoral degrees, compared to 11% of U.S.-born individuals.

Conclusion

University-educated immigrants are transforming the labor and social landscape of the United States. Their growing participation in key areas underscores their importance in the country’s economic and technological development. Additionally, their role in critical fields continues to shape the future of the nation.

From: https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/college-educated-immigrants-united-states 

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