US Sees a 19% Drop in International Student Arrivals This August

The U.S. experienced a 19% decline in international student arrivals in August compared to the same month last year. According to experts, this is the largest drop since the pandemic began. Thanks to visa delays, new travel bans, and vague immigration policies under the Trump administration.

The International Trade Administration reveals that both new and returning students were affected. The New York Times also reported a 23% slowdown in overall international student growth this fall, raising concerns about the U.S. losing its edge in global education.

Big Drop from Asia, Especially India

The USA is the home to nearly 1.3 million international students—more than any other nation. And over 70% of its international enrolment comes from Asia. However, this year has marked a significant drop of 24% in arrivals from Asia, leading to the lowest numbers since the pandemic.

Students from India, who account for nearly one-third of all international students in the U.S., saw the steepest fall. The number went down by 44% in August due to visa processing delays. The US has also seen a decline in student arrivals from China as a result of the ongoing political tensions between the two nations.

Europe Steady, But Other Regions Fall Behind

The American institutions found their saving grace in the European students' enrolment, which has been steady over the years. In fact, there has been a small increase from the U.K., though there is a slight drop from Spain and Germany. Russia, however, saw a larger decline due to diplomatic tensions.

The new visa restrictions have also impacted the student enrolments from Africa, the Middle East, and South America. Arrivals from Africa fell by nearly one-third, with Ghana and Nigeria each seeing close to 50% fewer students. This huge drop in student numbers is triggered by new U.S. visa rules in July. The updated guidelines have restricted travellers from some African nations to short-term, single-entry visas. Although the rule was later reversed for Ghana, it still affected student travel.

Student numbers in Saudi Arabia and Iran in the Middle East continued to decline, with Iranian arrivals declining 86 percent due to current travel restrictions. Enrolments also declined slightly in South America, even though it had previously shown signs of improvement.

 

 

Policy Changes Add to Student Concerns

 

The visa process has become harder this year because of several actions of the U.S. government. In May, visa interviews were suspended, additional travel bans were imposed on 19 countries, and more visas were revoked than normal.

F-1 student visas, the primary visa type to study in the U.S., were reduced by 22% in May as compared to May 2019. The applicants were also required to make their social media profiles public to facilitate background checks, and over 1,500 student visas were abruptly cancelled and later restored.

It has been aggravated by political tensions. Earlier this year, the government attempted to deport foreign students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations - a decision that was subsequently declared unconstitutional. Cases such as this have left some students questioning whether the U.S. remains a friendly country to study.

According to the NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the new international enrolments may decline by 30-40 percent more this fall, costing the U.S. economy approximately $7 billion.

 

 

Which Colleges Are Struggling Most

The hardest-hit schools are not the Ivy Leagues but smaller institutions and public universities that depend heavily on international arrivals.

STEM graduate programs:

More than 80 percent of international graduate students in the U.S. opt for science, technology, engineering, or math. Significant declines have been witnessed in these programs. The University of Central Missouri announced that its new international enrolment had declined by half.

Small Christian and Private Colleges:

Colleges with fewer students are struggling financially. In Niagara University, New York, the number of international students decreased by 45 percent, and at DePaul University in Chicago by 62 percent, leading to reduced hiring and a reduction of pay.

Public universities:

State universities such as Ohio State and Indiana University saw declines in enrolment of 38% and 30% respectively. Such schools usually rely on international tuition revenue to finance research and community programs.

 

 

What This Means for the Future

 

The continuous decline in the number of international students' enrolment can lead to a long-term impact, especially in the research and innovation field. Nearly three-quarters of all international doctoral scientists and engineers remain in the U.S. to work, and over 40 percent of all scientists and engineers with a doctorate are foreign-born.

Nevertheless, the new fee of $100,000 H-1B visa might complicate the graduates ' ability to work and remain in the U.S.

As the international students are a crucial source of income, research talent, and future skilled employees, the estimated multi-billion dollar economic loss is just one aspect of the cost. Without a successful attempt by the policymakers to strike a balance between the issues of national security and a clear and consistent future commitment to global academic exchange, the U.S. risks losing its competitive advantage to other countries and risking its status as a global leader in research and innovation.