Introduction to the Crisis
One international student after another told the University of Central Missouri this summer that they couldn’t get a visa, and many struggled to even land an interview for one. Even though demand was just as high as ever, half as many new international graduate students showed up for fall classes compared with last year. The decline represents a hit to the bottom line for Central Missouri, a small public university that operates close to its margins with an endowment of only $65 million. International students typically account for nearly a quarter of its tuition revenue. “We aren’t able to subsidize domestic students as much when we have fewer international students who are bringing revenue to us,” said Roger Best, the university’s president.
The Broader Impact on Colleges
Signs of a decline in international students have unsettled colleges around the U.S. Colleges with large numbers of foreign students and small endowments have little financial cushion to protect them from steep losses in tuition money. International students represent at least 20% of enrollment at more than 100 colleges with endowments of less than $250,000 per student, according to an Associated Press analysis. Many are small Christian colleges, but the group also includes large universities such as Northeastern and Carnegie Mellon. The extent of the change in enrollment will not be clear until the fall. Some groups have forecast a decline of as much as 40%, with a huge impact on college budgets and the wider U.S. economy.
Financial Implications
Foreign students are not eligible for federal financial aid and often pay full price for tuition — double or even triple the in-state rate paid by domestic students at public universities. “If an international student comes in and pays $80,000 a year in tuition, that gives universities the flexibility to offer lower fees and more scholarship money to American students,” said Justin Gest, a professor at George Mason University who studies the politics of immigration.
International Students Face New Scrutiny on Several Fronts
As part of a broader effort to reshape higher education, President Trump has pressed colleges to limit their numbers of international students and heightened scrutiny of student visas. His administration has moved to deport foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian activism, and new student visa appointments were put on hold for weeks as it ramped up vetting of applicants’ social media. On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security said it will propose a rule that would put new limits on the time foreign students can stay in the U.S. The policies have introduced severe financial instability for colleges, said Gest.
A Sudanese Student Barely Made It to the U.S. for the Start of Classes
Ahmed Ahmed, a Sudanese student, nearly didn’t make it to the U.S. for his freshman year at the University of Rochester. The Trump administration in June announced a travel ban on 12 countries, including Sudan. Diplomatic officials assured Ahmed he could still enter the U.S. because his visa was issued before the ban. But when he tried to board a flight to leave for the United States from Uganda, where he stayed with family during the summer, he was turned away and advised to contact an embassy about his visa. With the help of the University of Rochester’s international office, Ahmed was able to book another flight. At Rochester, where he received a scholarship to study electrical engineering, Ahmed, 19, said he feels supported by the staff. But he also finds himself on edge and understands why other students might not want to subject themselves to the scrutiny in the U.S., particularly those who are entirely paying their own way. “I feel like I made it through, but I’m one of the last people to make it through,” he said.
Colleges Are Taking Steps to Blunt the Impact
In recent years, international students have made up about 30% of enrollment at Central Missouri, which has a total of around 12,800 students. In anticipation of the hit to international enrollment, Central Missouri cut a cost-of-living raise for employees. It has pushed off infrastructure improvements planned for its campus and has been looking for other ways to cut costs. Small schools — typically classified as those with no more than 5,000 students — tend to have less financial flexibility and will be especially vulnerable, said Dick Startz, an economics professor at UC Santa Barbara. Lee University, a Christian institution with 3,500 students in Tennessee, is expecting 50 to 60 international students enrolled this fall, down from 82 the previous school year, representing a significant drop in revenue for the school, said Roy Y. Chan, the university’s director of graduate studies. The school already has increased tuition by 20% over the last five years to account for a decrease in overall enrollment, he said. “Since we’re a smaller liberal arts campus, tuition cost is our main, primary revenue,” Chan said, as opposed to government funding or donations.
Conclusion
The decline in international student enrollment due to Trump policies has severe financial implications for colleges, particularly those with small endowments and high reliance on international tuition. As colleges struggle to adapt to these changes, they must also consider the broader impact on their ability to offer scholarships and subsidies to domestic students. The future of international education in the U.S. remains uncertain, with potential long-term effects on the diversity and financial stability of colleges nationwide.
FAQs
- Q: What is causing the decline in international student enrollment?
A: The decline is attributed to Trump policies that have heightened scrutiny of student visas and introduced new limits on the time foreign students can stay in the U.S. - Q: How do international students contribute to college budgets?
A: International students often pay full price for tuition, which can be double or triple the in-state rate paid by domestic students, providing colleges with revenue to offer lower fees and scholarships to American students. - Q: Which colleges are most vulnerable to the decline in international enrollment?
A: Small colleges with less than $250,000 per student in endowments and those with high percentages of international students are most vulnerable. - Q: What steps are colleges taking to address the decline?
A: Colleges are cutting costs, pushing off infrastructure improvements, and exploring other revenue streams to mitigate the financial impact of declining international enrollment. - Q: What are the potential long-term effects of this decline?
A: The decline could lead to reduced diversity on campus, decreased ability for colleges to offer scholarships and subsidies to domestic students, and potential closures of smaller, financially vulnerable institutions.
