US Foreign Student Enrollment Drops 20%

A study by a coalition of education groups, including NAFSA: Association of International Educators, revealed a 20% average drop in new foreign undergraduate students at colleges in the United States this spring compared to a year earlier. This decline is attributed to the Donald Trump administration's restrictive government policies and crackdown on foreign student enrollment, which included actions by United States — United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arresting and detaining students, and the United States — United States Department of State pausing student visa interviews. The report indicates that 62% of surveyed American schools reported lower foreign enrollment in both undergraduate and graduate programs. This trend is a bellwether for potential serious budget shortfalls for US colleges if international enrollment continues to fall in the upcoming fall semester. Other major destinations for international students, such as Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, also reported declines, while colleges in Europe and Asia saw increases.