Most U.S. Universities Saw Dips in Intl. Enrollment
Another survey documents the decline in international student enrollment this academic year.
Photo illustration by Justin Morrison/Inside Higher Ed | skynesher/E+/Getty Images
The United States and Canada both experienced declines in international enrollment, while nations in Europe and Asia saw increases, according to a new report from NAFSA: Association of International Educators, Oxford Test of English, and Studyportals.
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. Similarly, 82 percent of Canadian universities saw declines at the undergraduate level and 71 percent at the graduate level.
Eighty-five percent of U.S. institutions cited visa restriction and government policies as a major barrier to international enrollment, up from just 58 percent last year.
“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.”
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.
About 36 percent of U.S. institutions said they hope to diversify into new markets in the next 12 months to address concerns about international student enrollments. Another 28 percent said they anticipate budget cuts, and about a quarter said they will expand their online offerings.
