Colombian Students in the USA: Community, Campuses, and Daily Life

Where Colombian students study in the US

Colombia is not concentrated in one region. Florida hosts the largest share of Colombian students, followed by New York, Texas, California, and Massachusetts, according to the Open Doors 2025 country fact sheet from the Institute of International Education. Miami and South Florida hold the largest Colombian community in the country outside Colombia itself, which shapes food, faith, and social life for many students even outside Florida.

Colombian students in the US by the numbers

More than two-thirds of Colombian students attend doctorate-granting universities, and public institutions host close to two-thirds of them, per the same Open Doors data.

Colombian student associations and cultural networks

Large campuses with a meaningful Colombian population usually run a Colombian Students Association, sometimes listed as a Colombian or broader Latin American club through the international student office. These groups host welcome events at the start of each semester, mark Independence Day on July 20, and often coordinate with wider Latino or Hispanic student unions on campus. Ask your school's international student office whether a Colombian or Latin American group exists before you arrive, most will connect you directly with current members.

Off campus, Colombian consulates in cities with large communities, including Miami, run cultural events and help with document needs like passport renewals while you study. Colombian-American chambers of commerce in several cities also host networking events that graduate students and young professionals find useful for building contacts beyond campus.

Food and daily life

Colombian food is easiest to find in Florida, the New York City area, and other cities with an established Colombian community. Arepas, bandeja paisa ingredients, and Colombian coffee brands show up in Latin grocery stores even outside those hubs. In smaller college towns, Colombian students more often cook at home and share ingredients ordered online or brought back after visits home. If you are used to Colombian coffee, a French press or a Colombian brand bought online gets closer to home than most US coffee shop defaults.

Faith and community life

Colombia is majority Catholic, and Catholic parishes near large Colombian student populations often hold a Spanish-language Mass, especially around Christmas. The nine nights of novena leading up to Christmas Eve remain a strong tradition for many Colombian families, and some student associations organize a group novena on campus for students who stay through December. Evangelical and other Christian communities with Spanish-language services are also common in cities with sizable Latino populations.

Holidays that matter, even when US campuses do not observe them

US academic calendars do not pause for Colombian holidays, so plan around them rather than expect time off. Independence Day on July 20 usually falls during the US summer break, which makes it easier to mark with other students. Christmas and New Year fall during winter break for most schools, a common window for students to travel home if their visa status and finances allow it. Semana Santa, Holy Week, typically does not align with a US spring break, so if it matters to you, plan how to observe it around your class schedule.

Weather and what to pack

Most of Colombia sits at a stable temperate or warm climate year-round, so a US winter is often the first real cold weather many Colombian students experience. Check your specific campus location before you pack, coastal and southern US schools stay mild, while the Northeast and Midwest see genuine winter. Buy a proper winter coat and boots after you arrive if your campus is in a cold-weather region, US stores carry gear suited to local conditions at a lower cost than importing it.

Opening a US bank account

Most Colombian students open a US bank account within the first weeks on campus, using the passport, I-20, and proof of local address most banks ask for. Ask your school's international student office which banks other Colombian and Latin American students use near campus, a bank already familiar with international student accounts moves faster than one that is not.

Staying connected home

International calling plans and WhatsApp cover daily contact with family, and many Colombian students set a weekly video call as a routine rather than leaving it informal. Sending money home or receiving it from family works through services built for international transfers rather than a standard domestic bank transfer, compare fees before you commit to one provider. Keep both a US and a Colombian phone number active where your budget allows, some Colombian banks and government services still expect a local number for verification.

Homesickness and support on campus

Most US campus counseling centers see international students regularly, and homesickness during the first semester is common enough that many schools run programs specifically for it. Colombian and Latin American student groups often become the first support network before students engage with campus mental health services, use both rather than choosing one over the other. If a counseling center does not have Spanish-speaking staff, ask about telehealth options, several US campuses now offer sessions in Spanish through partner providers.