The Trump administration’s crackdown on international students studying at American colleges and universities continues to reverberate across the academic universe, with changes in their legal status, entry bans on nationals from certain countries and more.
In a new report, Inside Higher Ed, a provider of data, analysis and information on higher education, analyzed the effect international students have in U.S. higher education and the value they add to the economy.
The U.S. accounted for the largest share of international students in 2024, 16% of the global total. American institutions hosted some 1.1 million learners from abroad, about 6% of the country’s total enrollment. Canada had the next-largest contingent of international students, 12% of the global total, followed by the United Kingdom at 11%, and Australia and France, each at 6%.
During the 2023–24 academic year, international students contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy, according to the nonprofit NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
Insider Higher Ed found that New York University had by far the largest foreign student contingent, 27,247 strong during the 2023–24 academic year. Northeastern University - Boston was second, with 21,023 students; followed by Columbia University, with 20,321; Arizona State University – Campus Immersion, with 18,430; and the University of Southern California, with 17,469.
The report noted that as of early June, nationals of 12 countries have been barred from entering the U.S., and those from seven more countries faced significant visa restrictions. The ban will affect 2% of the international student population.
As of March, according to Department of Homeland Security data, those 19 countries had sent 25,272 students to study at American colleges and universities, about a fifth of whom were participating in a bachelor’s degree program; 38% were enrolled in a doctoral program.
See the gallery for the 10 states with the highest international student populations during the 2023–24 academic year and the contributions those students made to each state’s economy.
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.