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.
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.
Germany, Japan, Taiwan, and Canada, meanwhile, have all increased international recruiting.
A survey of international students earlier this year revealed serious concerns about a Trump presidency. The March poll of 40,000 students in 118 countries by two international student recruiting firms found 60 percent of respondents were less likely to attend U.S. universities if Trump were elected, compared to 3.8 percent who felt that way about Hillary Clinton.
