KIMBERLY HEFLING, AP Education Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of foreign exchange students studying at U.S. colleges and universities is at a record high, with nearly a third coming from China.

The Institute of International Education, in partnership with the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, says nearly 900,000 international students are in the United States.

The group says the number of Chinese students in the U.S. increased by nearly 17 percent. The other top countries of origin were India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Canada.

At the same time, a record number of Americans are studying abroad, although their stints overseas tend to be shorter and there are far fewer American students who participate than foreign ones. The United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France and China were the leading destinations for U.S. students.