For decades, the United States has held a commanding lead as a destination for international students interested in STEM regions. Then the administration of US President Donald Trump started Cancel the student visaTemporarily Freeze in student visa interviewPromised Additional check for Chinese studentsAnd installed new Social media check For all applicants.
Now, the initial indications of organizations involved in international student placements show a decline in interest in American colleges and universities. And experts say that the policy changes of the Trump administration will have long -term consequences. “These tasks are being taken right now Clay harmonExecutive Director of International enrollment management union (AIRC).
Indicators interested in American education
StudyportalA company that helps international students find higher education programs worldwide tracks the inquiry that visitors do on their website. It publishes Reports About search trends that map for a few years to map for enrollment. In the end of May, the studyportals released the data that the student’s interest in the study in the United States (in all fields) Fall at its lowest level Since the height of the Covid-19 epidemic, there was a decline of 50 percent between January and the end of April with a weekly pageview for US degree programs.
But Spectrum ‘S Request, Studyportals viewed especially on their data for engineering programs. The company found that the student’s interest in American bachelor’s engineering degree There was a decline of 41 percent between January and May, while the master’s interest in engineering degree declined by 36 percent. Given engineering subdipplins, Studyportals saw the most drops in aerospace, automotive engineering, electronics, marine engineering and robotics.
“Every student who decides against America does not just lose tuition money – it is lost talent,” says Edwin van restCEO of Studyportals. “The person who started the next big company or made some major discovery could end in London rather than Boston, being made due to all the decisions.”
Other organizations echo the findings of study about international students in all fields losing interest in American school education. IDPAnother company that helps students find programs abroad, told Spectrum The discovery of programs in the United States fell down from discoveries for those in the United Kingdom for the first time in February. And in an IDP survey of more than 900 potential international students with American studies aspirations, 44 percent indicated that they were “seriously considering” at other study sites on the United States “.
The Harmon of the aircraft noted that “there is a really long timeline” for families considering sending a student abroad for higher education. “Some parents start tracking their children as kindergarten quickly,” they say that families can opt for bilingual schools to prepare their children for graduate studies in the United States. For graduate and doctoral programs, Harmon says, future students may take many years to find a program that is a good match, before they start working with financial and visa logistics. So now interest can be interested in results for many years.
Spectrum International student came out for the US state and immigration and customs enforcement to comment on policies, but no response was received. Spectrum International students for the upcoming school year also arrived in universities including MIT, Stanford, and UC Berkeley to comment on enrollment, but the representatives said they would release nomination figures in the fall and there would be no comments before that.
In the 2023–2024 academic year, the number of international students studying in the United States was at an all-time high.Open the door
How many international students study in the United States?
Number of international students pursuing higher education One reached the United States 1.1 million unprecedented high According to data from the US State Department, 2023-2024 school years (the most recent figures are available). Most of those students studied in 56 percent, STEM areas, 19 percent studied engineering and pursued a degree in 25 percent mathematics or computer science.
In the field of artificial intelligence, figures are particularly striking. By a 2023 analysis National Foundation for American Policy He found 70 percent graduate students AI -related fields are international students, and 42 percent of the top AI companies located in the United States (as determined by Forbes AI 50 List) Was a founder who came to this country as an international student.
In Interview with newsmax In May, US vice -president JD Vance argued that the country does not need to import foreign students to do “great things”, saying, “I think we should invest in our people.” But Harmon raises the issue with that idea: “The idea that international students are stealing seats from domestic (applicants) cannot be away from truth.” He noted that the complete non -resident tuition paid by international students provides resources to universities that effectively subsidize domestic students who receive financial assistance.
Economic influence of international students
In June, NAFSA: Association of International Educators Area reported from more than 90 colleges and universities in the United States. About 75 percent Those institutions said that they estimate a decline in international enrollment in this decline, And 40 percent of the respondents had heard from the students who have decided against the study in the United States., The top five countries that are changing instead are the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, China and Germany.
“International students and scholars are tremendous assets who contribute to the preceding innovation, research and economic power for us,” says Fanta AWNAFSA Executive Director and CEO. “It is a self-prostration to reduce their ability to study here.” His organization regularly Conducted economic analysisS Related to International Students; Its most recent report found that these students in 2023-2024 school year US $ 34.8 billion contributed For American economy.
Harmon noted that many other countries have recognized the value of international students and have launched recruitment campaigns with countries offering free tuition to international students in the hope of attracting young skilled workers.
“It is very difficult to create a reputation for the best education opportunities in the world,ND is easy to destroy that reputation and belief, “called harmon.”Especially when those students were waiting in wings to take. ,
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