American universities confronting Trump administration budget restrictions could experience additional financial setbacks due to potential decreases in international student enrollment.
In the coming weeks, countless students will be making a critical decision: where they'll continue their educational journey. However, for aspiring international students eyeing studies in the U.S., the choice has become increasingly complex.
Under the Trump administration, hundreds of student visas have been revoked, with strict policies imposed on colleges, threatening to withdraw billions in funding and even a single institution's capacity to host foreign students.
In the past academic year alone, around 1.1 million international students graced the halls of American higher education institutions, marking a record high, according to a report from the nonprofit Institute of International Education.
International students add substantial revenue to U.S. universities, often paying full tuition, and serving as a vital source of funding. The loss of foreign students could potentially create significant financial strain for many American institutions.
Stephen Yale-Loehr, a retired Cornell University immigration law professor, told CNN, "A lot of universities are already under financial strain due to a variety of reasons, including the recent efforts by the Trump administration against certain elite institutions to claw back federal aid. So, a drop in international students will hurt those institutions even more."
As of now, it is unclear whether enrollment numbers will slip this upcoming year, with a clearer picture emerging after May 1, college decision day. However, Yale-Loehr noted, "It seems like a lot of students are more skittish about coming to the United States."
One company handling applications reports a slight dip in international applications, with China, which furnishes around 25% of foreign students, delivering a warning to its citizens about U.S. studies.
Since Trump took office in January 2020, over a thousand international students or recent graduates have had their visas revoked or statuses terminated, with high-profile cases accusing students of supporting terror organizations and others stemming from relatively minor offenses.
International students are less likely to be eligible for federal financial aid, and many universities prioritize their financial aid towards domestic students. With this, international students contribute more dollars per student than domestic students.
Some colleges believe their commitment lies with in-state and American students, as their families pay taxes, according to William Brustein, a higher education global strategist. He's served as the chief international officer at several public universities and top-tier positions for organizations supporting international students.
Most international students self-fund their education through their families or employment, with less than one-fifth receiving primary funding from their U.S. college or university, as found by the Institute of International Education.
A research paper published in the American Economic Journal suggests that an increase in foreign students at public research universities contributed to significant tuition revenue gains, which helped offset falling state funding appropriations.
This week, the federal government froze over $2 billion in multiyear grants and $60 million in multiyear contracts at Harvard. Then, the Department of Homeland Security threatened to strip Harvard of its ability to enroll foreigners if it didn't surrender records on "illegal and violent activities" by current international students. International students constitute over a quarter of Harvard's enrollment.
While elite universities may suffer financially from a decline in foreign students, others, like public research universities with shallower endowments, could feel the impact more acutely, Brustein explained.
One-quarter of international students in the U.S. originate from China, surpassed only by India, accounting for 29% of foreign students. China, amid a massive trade war and what it deems as deteriorating "China-U.S. economic and trade relations and the security situation within the United States," warned its citizens visiting and studying in the U.S. to proceed with caution.
China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Ministry of Education issued statements cautioning Chinese citizens about studying in the U.S. Jayson Ma, a 24-year-old Chinese national, learned his student visa was revoked by the federal government earlier this month, despite having no criminal record or convictions.
According to Brustein, the geopolitical environment over the last ten to fifteen years, particularly with respect to the U.S.-China relationship, has reduced the appeal of choosing the U.S. for Chinese students, further intensified by Covid-19 and its aftermath.
In 2020, the U.S. revoked visas for over a thousand Chinese students and researchers deemed security risks, with many of these restrictive policies kept in place when President Joe Biden took office, making it difficult for Chinese graduate students and researchers to secure a visa.
American schools experienced a 4% drop in Chinese international students enrolled for the 2023-24 academic year, according to the Institute of International Education.
- Given the uncertainty surrounding student visas and the potential financial strain on American institutions, some universities might rely more heavily on domestic students.
- The loss of international students, who often pay full tuition and serve as a vital source of funding, could be a significant concern for colleges finalizing their budgets for education and self-development.
- Amidst increased visa rejections and strict policies, politics and general news regarding international students in the U.S. might have a considerable impact on tuition decisions for aspiring international students.
- The recent economic tension between the U.S. and China could contribute to a decrease in visas issued for Chinese students, potentially leading to a drop in tuition revenue for American universities.
- With China cautioning its citizens about the security situation within the United States, visas for Chinese students may become more difficult to obtain, making it essential for them to stay informed about the latest news and policies regarding education and self-development in the U.S.
