Foreign student enrollment at US universities is declining markedly amid the Trump administration's hardline immigration and visa policies. New foreign undergraduate enrollment fell an average of 20% this spring, raising concerns that American universities heavily dependent on international tuition could face financial pressure.
A survey of 149 US universities conducted by NAFSA: Association of International Educators and major education groups showed a clear drop in foreign student enrollment at a significant number of schools, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.
Of the universities surveyed, 62% said foreign enrollment in both undergraduate and graduate programs this spring declined from the same period a year earlier. For new undergraduates alone, the average decline reached about 20%.
The universities cited the Trump administration's tightened regulatory policies as the biggest cause of the drop. Some 84% of responding universities said the government's restrictive immigration policies had a direct impact, and more than one in three warned that declining foreign enrollment could lead to budget cuts.
For US universities, foreign students represent more than just enrollment numbers. Many pay full tuition without scholarships, making them a central pillar of university finances. With competition for new students intensifying amid declining school-age populations in the US, the importance of international students has grown further.
Bloomberg analyzed that some universities could face serious financial strain if a similar decline continues in the coming fall semester. The fall semester has the largest incoming class, meaning a drop in foreign students would have a much greater impact on overall university operations.
Since taking office, the Trump administration has made higher education reform and border control key policies, significantly tightening oversight of foreign students. Last year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested and detained some foreign students on campuses and in dormitories, and thousands had their legal status revoked.
While the government subsequently lost a series of court cases and most students regained their status, anxiety over studying in the US has already spread worldwide. With the perception growing that students could lose their status at any time despite paying high tuition, more are choosing other countries over the US.
In fact, the US State Department temporarily suspended interview schedules last year while tightening screening for new student visas. Although procedures resumed after a gap of nearly a month, student visa issuances fell 36% from the previous year.
This trend is also reshaping the global study-abroad market. Meanwhile, a separate NAFSA survey of universities worldwide found that the UK and Australia also saw declines in foreign students this spring due to tightened immigration policies, while major European and Asian countries saw increases in foreign enrollment.
