This week, President Trump implemented a policy temporarily halting visas for foreign students aiming to enrol at Harvard University in the forthcoming semester. Immediately, this decision was stopped by a judge. The move marks a significant increase in tensions between the nation’s executive power and its most prestigious institution. The Trump administration argues this measure is necessary due to national security, crime prevention, and civil rights protection. In addition to these changes, the new policy requests Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reassess visas granted to Harvard’s international students in light of the new regulations.
While Harvard is in the spotlight because of this recent move, it is part of a broader trend of immigration policies affecting international students in the U.S.. The government announced a new travel ban and additional restrictions on individuals from 19 countries effective as of June 9. Lately, the State Department also disclosed their decision to put new visa interviews for foreign students on hold. This chain of events has resulted in widespread anxiety among international students aspiring to be admitted to American universities this fall.
These developments are already leading to changes. Preliminary data from educational application platforms reveal a noticeable reduction in students seeking to study at U.S. universities. A decline in international students’ numbers would present significant challenges for institutions which depend on these individuals for their financial status and for the contributions they make to social, cultural, academic, and research prospects in the U.S., according to an economist and an international educators association head.
Let’s delve into the demographics and profiles of these overseas students; analyzing their place of origin, academic choices, and the number of students enrolling in U.S. institutions. Approximately 75 years ago (1948-49 academic year), there were a meagre 25,000 international students in U.S. higher education institutes, accounting for roughly 1% of the total student body, based on the Institute of International Education’s initial data.
The influx of foreign students to the U.S. has surged dramatically over the decades, especially after 2006. As per the latest data, nearly 19 million students are enrolled in U.S. colleges, of which approximately 6% or slightly more than 1.1 million are international students. This data, collected from over 680 colleges and universities, pertains to the 2023-24 academic year.
Notably, many foreign alumni of American universities have risen to prominent positions. Belgium’s King Phillipe, who attended Stanford University, and Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk, a University of Pennsylvania graduate originally from South Africa, are notable examples.
There are no geographical limitations on where these students come from to study in the U.S. Data for academic year 2023-24 shows that about three-quarters of these students originate from Asia. A significant majority of these are from India and China.
Harvard University has been the Trump administration’s focus lately. This elite institution boasts nearly 7,000 international students from over 140 countries, making up more than a quarter of its total student count, according to data from academic year 2024-25. Including all scholars and researchers, Harvard’s international community exceeds 10,000 individuals.
However, Harvard does not feature in the list of top 25 institutions hosting the most international students, based on the most recent comprehensive data available from the IIE for the 2023-2024 school year. New York University consistently ranks as one of the top universities playing host to a large international student body, numbering nearly 30,000 international students in academic year 2023-2024.
Other universities with significant international populations are Northeastern University’s Boston campus and Columbia University, who follow close behind NYU. Notably, 12 of the top 20 universities with the most international students are public schools, whose cultural, financial and social stability is seriously threatened by the potential loss of their international students.
In fact, higher-end institutions such as Harvard or Yale may be able to financially weather the loss of their overseas students, but public universities rely heavily on international students’ tuition. For example, in the University of California system, international students’ tuition significantly offsets the costs for local students.
Notably, tuition fees for international students are typically three times higher than for domestic students. Moreover, with only a few exceptions, foreign students are not eligible to receive financial aid.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is one of the many universities that attract a large contingent of international students. As per the 2024-2025 data, about 25% of the total student body are international students.
Many international students continue to pursue their graduate studies in the U.S post their undergraduate education. While Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Stanford have sufficient funds to withstand the loss of income from international students’ tuition, the contribution of these foreign students to advancing research is irreplaceable.
According to NAFSA, overseas students pumped $43.8 billion into the U.S. economy in the 2023-2024 academic year and sustained over 378,000 jobs. Additionally, more than half of all foreign students are enrolled in STEM fields at American colleges.
As the State Department extends its hiatus on visa applications for international students, these individuals are confronting the very real possibility of their education being disrupted in the coming fall.