U.S. Loses Global Education Market Share Amidst Protectionist Policies
The U.S. has long been a top destination for international students, but recent trends suggest a significant shift. Protectionist measures by the U.S. government, coupled with increased interest in alternative countries, have led to a decline in interest in studying in the U.S. This comes despite the substantial economic impact international students have on the U.S. stock market.
In the years 2023 and 2025, the U.S. government's protectionist policies, such as threatened sanctions and restrictive visa policies, have increased uncertainty for international students. This, along with the attractiveness of other countries like Germany, has contributed to a decline in interest in U.S. education. The impact is evident: the U.S. has lost 30% of its global market share for international education between early January and the end of April 2025.
The economic contributions of international students are substantial. In the 2023-2024 academic year, they contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. stock market and supported over 378,000 jobs. However, the current trend shows a significant decline. If it continues, U.S. student demand could drop by more than 70% year-on-year. Even interest from American students in U.S.-based degrees has declined by 20.5% in the first quarter of 2025. The number of weekly pageviews for U.S. degrees on Studyportals has fallen by 50% between early January and the end of April 2025.
The decline in interest in studying in the U.S. is a significant shift in the global education landscape. Despite the U.S. once holding almost half of the global market share for international education, it now faces a substantial drop. The mission of global education remains, but it's clear that the U.S. must adapt its policies to maintain its competitiveness in the international education market.
