Slain USC Students Part of Largest International Student Body in U.S.

University of Southern California ranked top in the nation for international students during the 2010-11 academic year, boasting 8,615 foreign transplants at the private university located near Downtown LA, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

That growing population came into view Wednesday after two international graduate students were fatally shot in the West Adams District.

The victims, electrical engineering students identified as Ying Wu and Ming Qu, were international students from China, the foremost country of origin for USC international students.

Between Fall 2009 and Spring 2010, enrollment by Chinese students jumped nearly 37 percent, according to that year's enrollment report.

Students hailing from India, South Korea, Taiwan and Canada round out the top five countries of origin for USC international students, the report notes.

The population of international students grew nearly 8 percent for the 2010-11 academic year and has been steadily increasing ever since, according to USC’s enrollment report.

Calls to the USC Office of International Students were not immediately returned.

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