The political climate in the United States have led universities to raise concerns towards the decrement in international student numbers. However, changes in the political climate in any other country (including the United States) could also have an impact on international migrant scholars and university rankings.
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College applications from international students are taking a hit
United States’s political climate could have a negative impact on colleges and universities’ international student enrollment rate. With international students contributing more than $32 billion per year into U.S. economy, a decrement in the number of international student enrollment at some institutions could result in a significant economic impact. These students also play a critical role in the budgeting process at many institutions especially as government aid to schools progressively decline, according to the Institute of International Education.
This year, many institutions have witnessed a drop in international student enrollment rate especially from countries in the Middle East. In addition, according to a report by the American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), 39% of responding universities also have noted a slide in the number of undergraduate applications next year from the Middle Eastern region.
International students have also raised concerns about studying in the United States and pointed out the uncertainty towards possible enhanced restrictions to visas and expansions of the president’s executive order travel ban.
“I have had second thoughts this school term about if [the United States] is the right place for me to study or not. I don’t live in constant fear, but I worry about what could happen if the government tells me I can’t come back if I go home. I’m here to study and go to school, but that is still not easy for international students.” – Rafi Kahn, Freshman at the City University of New York.
“The climate is changing for international students in the United States. I don’t know if this country is really where I want to stay, especially if there are so many questions about what could happen to foreign people here.” – Emily Huang, Senior at the University of California-Los Angeles.
Furthermore, universities are concerned that a decrement in international student numbers will lead to a fall in tuition dollars, resulting in a negative impact to institutions. Hence, to alleviate the mentioned concerns, institutions have attempted to heighten communication and travelling and marketing strategies to reassure potential students about safety and emphasise the benefits and opportunities of studying in the United States.
Source: USA Today