The number of international students at U.S. colleges and universities has hit a record high, but experts suggest that Donald Trump’s election may slow the growth of this market — and threaten the estimated $35 billion it adds annually to the American economy.
For the first time, the number of international students at U.S. universities exceeded a million last year, according to new figures from the Institute of International Education. The total of about 1,044,000 was up 7 percent from 2014-15.
China and India remained the top two sources of international students, but Saudi Arabia — bolstered by a government-funded scholarship program — passed South Korea to pull into third on the list.
After a caustic presidential campaign and Trump’s vows to limit immigration, build a Mexican border wall and force Muslims to register, some in higher education are bracing for a backlash among students who see the United States as a less-welcoming destination.
If the rise of post-Brexit anti-foreigner attacks in Great Britain is any indication, they say, Trump’s presidency — and its possible policy implications—could lead international students to look elsewhere for their educations.
