The number of Indian students studying in the US soared by 25 percent to a record high. The 2016 Open Doors data says, Indian students contribute more than 5.5 billion USD to the American economy. <br/><br/>It comes against the backdrop of a steep decline in Indian students opting for the UK, with one estimate citing a 50 percent drop in four years. <br/><br/>Analysts say tougher visa rules in the UK and the stabilisation of the rupee against the dollar explain the trend.<br/><br/>According to a report by the Institute of International Education in collaboration with the US department of state's bureau of educational and cultural affairs said, total of 165,918 Indians are now studying in the US, up from 132,888 in 2014-15.