Summary
U.S. colleges face a big drop in international student enrollments as the fall semester begins. The decrease is mostly due to tougher visa rules and delays in the visa process. This decline affects universities across the country, particularly in graduate STEM programs.
Key Facts
- The University at Buffalo has about 750 fewer international students than expected.
- The drop in international students is about 15% overall at Buffalo and affects mainly graduate programs.
- Arizona State University and universities in Texas, Missouri, Illinois, and Massachusetts report similar declines.
- New visa rules and delays this summer made it hard for many students to get to the U.S. in time.
- Over 1 million international students studied in the U.S. last year, bringing in about $43 billion to the U.S. economy.
- The expected drop this fall could lead to a $7 billion loss in spending and over 60,000 jobs.
- Some students are choosing to study in countries like the U.K. due to the visa issues in the U.S.
- The U.S. State Department revoked around 6,000 student visas this year, citing security concerns.
