College Applications Rise Outside US as Trump Cracks Down

Introduction to the Issue

In China, wait times for U.S. visa interviews are so long that some students have given up. Universities in Hong Kong are fielding transfer inquiries from foreign students in the U.S., and international applications for British undergraduate programs have surged. President Donald Trump’s administration has been pressuring U.S. colleges to reduce their dependence on international enrollment while adding new layers of scrutiny for foreign students as part of its crackdown on immigration.

The US Government’s Stance

The U.S. government has sought to deport foreign students for participating in pro-Palestinian activism. In the spring, it abruptly revoked the legal status of thousands of international students, including some whose only brush with law enforcement was a traffic ticket. After reversing course, the government paused new appointments for student visas while rolling out a process for screening applicants’ social media accounts.

Impact on US Universities

The U.S. remains the first choice for many international students, but institutions elsewhere are recognizing opportunity in the upheaval, and applicants are considering destinations they might have otherwise overlooked. The impact on U.S. universities — and the nation’s economy — may be significant. New international enrollment in the U.S. could drop by 30% to 40% this fall, according to an analysis of visa and enrollment data by NAFSA, an agency that promotes international education. That would deprive the U.S. economy of $7 billion in spending, according to the analysis. Many international students pay full price, so their absence would also hurt college budgets.

Britain Stands to Gain

An Increase in International Applications

As the second most popular destination for international students, Britain is positioned to benefit. The country’s new Labour government has vowed to cut migration, and officials have imposed time limits on post-study visas allowing graduates to stay and work. But admissions consultants say the United Kingdom is still seen as the most welcoming of the traditional “big four” English-speaking destinations in higher education — the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia. After declining last year, the number of international applications for undergraduate study in the U.K. this fall grew by 2.2%, official figures show. A record number of applications came from China, up 10% compared with the previous year. Applications from the U.S. also reached nearly 8,000 students — an increase of 14% and a 20-year high.

Acceptance Rates

Acceptances of international students for graduate programs in the U.K. grew an estimated 10% from last year, driven by demand for business and management courses in particular, according to data from UniQuest, which works with many British universities on admissions. Data showing the extent of any impact will not be available until fall, said Mike Henniger, CEO of Illume Student Advisory Services, a consultancy that works with colleges in the U.S., Canada and Europe. “But the American brand has taken a massive hit, and the U.K. is the one that is benefiting,” he said.

Staying in Asia is Becoming More Popular

Demand from Chinese students has risen rapidly for universities places in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, said Will Kwong, managing director of AAS Education, a consultancy in Hong Kong. Many Western universities have offshore campuses there that are more affordable than going to the U.S. or U.K. “Opting for study in Asia has been a trend since the easing of COVID-19,” Kwong said. “But obviously it’s been exacerbated by the change of administration in the U.S.” Some Asian families have told him the U.S. is no longer their clear first choice because of political turbulence and visa difficulties, many are still waiting for U.S. visa interviews and will likely miss the start of the fall term, Kwong said.

Upheaval Could be a Boon for Countries with Satellite Campuses

Countries including the United Arab Emirates have invested heavily in attracting international students by partnering with universities elsewhere to host branch campuses. These arrangements could appeal to students who fear being denied access to the U.S. Dubai, which has designs on becoming a global education hub, hosts dozens of international institutions’ satellite campuses. It saw international student numbers grow by a third in 2024-2025. Lisa Johnson, principal of Dubai’s private American Academy for Girls, said her mostly Emirati student body is increasingly looking away from the U.S. for college. “Every student wants and dreams to go to Harvard,” she said. “But as college options increase in the United Arab Emirates, more and more students are staying.” Kazakhstan has similar ambitions, said Daniel Palm, who has helped U.S. universities set up campuses abroad. Illinois Tech and the University of Arizona are among colleges offering degree programs in the Central Asian country, drawing students mostly from China and Russia. “All of a sudden U.S. colleges are asking how to provide diversity, provide access,” Palm said, “because you have students who want to come to the U.S. and can’t.”

Conclusion

The U.S. government’s crackdown on immigration has led to a significant decline in international student enrollment, which could have a substantial impact on the U.S. economy. As a result, other countries, such as the U.K. and those in Asia, are benefiting from the increased interest in their universities. The rise of satellite campuses in countries like the United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan is also providing alternative options for international students. Ultimately, the U.S. may need to reassess its immigration policies to remain competitive in the global higher education market.

FAQs

Q: What is the impact of the U.S. government’s crackdown on immigration on international student enrollment?

A: The U.S. government’s crackdown on immigration has led to a decline in international student enrollment, with new international enrollment in the U.S. potentially dropping by 30% to 40% this fall.

Q: Which countries are benefiting from the increased interest in international education?

A: Countries such as the U.K., Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia are seeing an increase in international student applications, as well as countries with satellite campuses like the United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan.

Q: What are the potential economic implications of the decline in international student enrollment in the U.S.?

A: The decline in international student enrollment could deprive the U.S. economy of $7 billion in spending, according to an analysis of visa and enrollment data by NAFSA.

Q: Are there any alternative options for international students who are denied access to the U.S.?

A: Yes, countries with satellite campuses, such as the United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan, are providing alternative options for international students. Additionally, universities in Asia, such as those in Hong Kong and Singapore, are also becoming more popular among international students.

By SYLVIA HUI, Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — In China, wait times for U.S. visa interviews are so long that some students have given up. Universities in Hong Kong are fielding transfer inquiries from foreign students in the U.S., and international applications for British undergraduate programs have surged.

President Donald Trump’s administration has been pressuring U.S. colleges to reduce their dependence on international enrollment while adding new layers of scrutiny for foreign students as part of its crackdown on immigration.

The U.S. government has sought to deport foreign students for participating in pro-Palestinian activism. In the spring, it abruptly revoked the legal status of thousands of international students, including some whose only brush with law enforcement was a traffic ticket. After reversing course, the government paused new appointments for student visas while rolling out a process for screening applicants’ social media accounts.

The U.S. remains the first choice for many international students, but institutions elsewhere are recognizing opportunity in the upheaval, and applicants are considering destinations they might have otherwise overlooked. The impact on U.S. universities — and the nation’s economy — may be significant.

New international enrollment in the U.S. could drop by 30% to 40% this fall, according to an analysis of visa and enrollment data by NAFSA, an agency that promotes international education.

That would deprive the U.S. economy of $7 billion in spending, according to the analysis. Many international students pay full price, so their absence would also hurt college budgets.

Britain stands to gain as the US takes ‘a massive hit’

As the second most popular destination for international students, Britain is positioned to benefit.

The country’s new Labour government has vowed to cut migration, and officials have imposed time limits on post-study visas allowing graduates to stay and work. But admissions consultants say the United Kingdom is still seen as the most welcoming of the traditional “big four” English-speaking destinations in higher education — the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia.

After declining last year, the number of international applications for undergraduate study in the U.K. this fall grew by 2.2%, official figures show. A record number of applications came from China, up 10% compared with the previous year. Applications from the U.S. also reached nearly 8,000 students — an increase of 14% and a 20-year high.

Acceptances of international students for graduate programs in the U.K. grew an estimated 10% from last year, driven by demand for business and management courses in particular, according to data from UniQuest, which works with many British universities on admissions.

Data showing the extent of any impact will not be available until fall, said Mike Henniger, CEO of Illume