BOSTON (AP) — The number of international students on American college campuses is surging, and three Boston-area universities are among the leaders.

New figures out Monday from the Institute of International Education show international enrollment at U.S. colleges and universities grew nearly 6 percent last year.

Of the top 25 campuses with the most international students, Northeastern was seventh, with nearly 6,500.

Boston University was 13th with just over 6,000, while Harvard was 17th with just under 5,500.

The national leader was Southern California with nearly 9,300 international students.

Nationally, most of the foreign students are coming from China, followed by India, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.