International student enrollment experiences a significant decline under Trump's policies, straining college finances
The decline in international student enrollment is causing concern among U.S. colleges, especially those with smaller endowments and a high percentage of foreign students. According to recent data, international students typically account for nearly a quarter of the tuition revenue at institutions like the University of Central Missouri.
This trend is expected to continue, with the number of high school graduates in the U.S. projected to decline through 2041, according to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. This decrease, estimated at 13% compared to 2024, could have a significant impact on colleges that rely heavily on international student tuition.
One such institution is Lee University, a Christian institution in Tennessee with 3,500 students, which is expecting a significant drop in revenue due to a decrease in international enrollment this fall. This decline is not unique to Lee University; the University of Central Missouri has also experienced a decrease in international graduate students for fall classes, with half as many showing up compared to last year.
The reasons for this decline are multifaceted. Foreign students are not eligible for federal financial aid and often pay full price for tuition, which gives universities the flexibility to offer lower fees and more scholarship money to American students. However, the Trump administration's policies have contributed to the uncertainty surrounding international student enrollment.
President Donald Trump has pressed colleges to limit their numbers of international students and has heightened scrutiny of student visas. The Trump administration has moved to deport foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian activism and put new student visa appointments on hold for weeks as it ramped up vetting of applicants' social media.
Moreover, the Trump administration's travel ban on 12 countries, including Sudan, nearly prevented Ahmed Ahmed, a Sudanese student, from making it to the U.S. for his freshman year at the University of Rochester. Ahmed Ahmed, who received a scholarship to study electrical engineering, felt supported by the staff at the University of Rochester but finds himself on edge due to the scrutiny faced by international students in the U.S.
The extent of the change in enrollment will not be clear until the fall, but some groups have forecast a decline of as much as 40%. This decline could have far-reaching consequences, particularly for smaller colleges with less financial flexibility. Nationwide, private colleges have been closing at a rate of about two per month, according to the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association. Small schools, particularly those with less than 5,000 students, will be especially vulnerable to the impact of decreased international enrollment.
On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security announced it will propose a rule that would put new limits on the time foreign students can stay in the U.S. This proposed rule, if enacted, could further exacerbate the decline in international student enrollment and the financial struggles faced by many U.S. colleges.
