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Restrictions first introduced during U.S. President Donald Trump’s presidency continue to affect international student enrollment in the United States. According to the Wall Street Journal, many universities have seen steep declines this year, with some institutions reporting drops of up to 45%. Data from NAFSA, the Association of International Educators, shows that the U.S. hosted 1.1 million international students during the 2023–2024 academic year. These students contributed an estimated $43.8 billion to the American economy, but the trend has since reversed sharply.
At Saint Louis University, international enrollment fell by nearly half, leaving the total student number just below 1,900. The university’s president, Edward Feser, admitted that the institution was in “serious difficulty,” underlining that foreign students typically pay full tuition fees, which help offset scholarships granted to domestic students.
Other universities have also reported declines. Arizona State University, which usually accepts more international students than any other public institution in the U.S., announced a drop of around 500 foreign students compared to last year, equating to a 3 percent decrease. Officials there encouraged students still struggling with visa processes to defer their studies until the spring semester. Meanwhile, the University of Cincinnati reported that its international graduate student body fell by one-quarter to around 2,200, though undergraduate numbers remained unchanged.
Many students describe the situation as deeply frustrating. At the University of Vermont, Iranian student Elham Shamiri, who was attempting to begin a PhD program in chemistry, said: “I feel like I am in the middle of nothingness.” She explained that she and hundreds of other Iranian students have appealed to U.S. politicians to create exceptions for those who already hold acceptance offers. Shamiri stressed that their interests were not political, saying: “We are students who are truly committed to research.”
With international enrollment dropping in the United States, experts suggest that students may increasingly turn to other countries, with Türkiye standing out as a key alternative. Currently, universities in Türkiye host nearly 350,000 international students from 198 countries, primarily from neighboring states and Turkic nations.
This makes Türkiye the seventh most popular destination worldwide for international student mobility. The financial impact is also notable, with these students contributing close to $3 billion to the Turkish economy. The government has set an ambitious target of reaching one million foreign students in the coming years. Observers point out that the restrictions imposed in the U.S. may accelerate this process, positioning Türkiye as one of the most important options for students seeking new academic routes.
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