Decline in International Student Count at U.S. Universities During Fall Season
The fall semester of 2021 has seen a significant decline in the number of international students at various college campuses across the U.S., posing financial challenges for universities as international students pay considerably more in tuition than in-state students.
According to reports, the University of Buffalo has experienced an international student decline of around 15%, mostly at the graduate level and in the STEM fields. Similarly, Missouri State University (MSU) has experienced a 16% decrease in their international student enrollments. The University of Texas at Arlington is projecting a 40% drop, while Arizona State University is experiencing a decline for the first time since 2020.
The state of Massachusetts is projected to have 10,000 fewer new international students this year, and the University of Virginia experienced the largest drop in the number of international students in the fall semester of 2021 in the USA.
The decline in international student enrollments is widely anticipated due to the Trump administration's volatile visa policies. Uttiyo Raychaudhuri, the university's vice provost of internationalization at the University of Denver, stated that there are students waiting for visa appointments and they don't know when they'll get them.
The growth of international graduates working via OPT (Optional Practical Training) has been a significant driver attracting students from overseas to study in the U.S. in recent years. However, the confirmation of Joseph Edlow as director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has been a sector focus, as Edlow has indicated that he looks to dismantle the ability of international students to pursue post-study work opportunities through the OPT scheme.
An analysis by NAFSA: Association of International Educators and JB International predicts that the U.S. could lose up to $7 billion in local economic activity this fall due to a steep fall in international student enrollments. Nearly a third of that-about $900 million-would come from lost tuition revenue.
Not all universities have been affected equally. Columbia University has reported steady international student enrollments this term, as has Princeton University. However, the University of Denver has reported a sharp 25% fall in international student enrollments this fall semester.
Including undergraduates, the total number of students from India alone declined nearly 33% at the University of Cincinnati. This trend is concerning for universities that rely heavily on international student tuition to balance their budgets.
As the new academic year progresses, universities are closely monitoring the situation and working to attract international students. The decline in international student enrollments is a complex issue, influenced by a variety of factors including visa policies, economic conditions, and the ongoing pandemic.
