Survey: Most U.S. Universities Saw Dips in Intl. Enrollment

""We are navigating one of the most dynamic moments in international education, driven in no small part by shifts in U.S. visa and immigration policy," said Fanta Aw, NAFSA's executive director and CEO, in a news release. "The ripple effects of these policy changes are being felt across campuses and communities around the world. This moment calls on our higher education institutions to be nimble and deeply attuned to the needs of their students-and it calls on us, as an ecosystem, to continue pressing policymakers for greater consistency and clarity throughout the international student journey. The United States benefits enormously-economically, socially, and intellectually-from international students, and our policies must reflect that reality.""

"Just under half of the 201 U.S institutions surveyed reported lower undergraduate international student enrollment as compared to last year, while that number was even higher-63 percent-for postgraduate students."

"On the flip side, 82 percent of Asian universities and 73 percent of European institutions reported undergraduate international enrollment was either growing or holding steady. The United Kingdom was close to evenly split; 39 percent of institutions enrolled fewer undergraduate international students this year, but 42 percent enrolled more."

United States and Canadian institutions reported notable declines in international student enrollment, with just under half of 201 U.S. institutions seeing lower undergraduate numbers and 63 percent reporting reduced postgraduate enrollment. In Canada, 82 percent of universities experienced undergraduate declines and 71 percent saw graduate declines. A rising share of U.S. institutions—85 percent—identified visa restrictions and government policies as a major barrier, up from 58 percent the prior year. Conversely, 82 percent of Asian and 73 percent of European universities reported undergraduate enrollment growing or holding steady. The United Kingdom showed a near-even split, and about 36 percent of U.S. institutions plan to diversify into new markets within 12 months.

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