The number of international students studying at U.S. colleges and universities grew to a record high in 2012, according to a survey by the Institute of International Education. The Los Angeles Times reports that the number of international students in U.S. institutions increased by about 7 percent last year to nearly 820,000. The University of Southern California was the most popular destination for international students. It had 9,840 students in 2012 from outside the United States.