A curated list of select NAFSA media mentions and other key coverage of international education.
Week of September 15-21, 2025
NAFSA in the News
Bloomberg: What Trump’s Foreign Student Crackdown Means for US Universities
Restrictions on international students are cutting into universities’ tuition revenue, research output, and ability to maintain diverse classrooms that prepare graduates for a global economy. As other countries expand their recruitment of foreign talent, the U.S. risks falling behind in innovation and weakening its reputation as the leading destination for higher education.
Cincinnati Business Courier: International Student Enrollment Decline Threatens Ohio's Economy, Costing $200M And Thousands of Jobs
Ohio colleges are experiencing sharp declines in international enrollment that are projected to cost the state nearly $200 million in lost revenue and threaten thousands of jobs linked to higher education and regional economies. The downturn highlights how dependent regional industries have become on tuition-paying students from abroad.
Forbes: International Student Numbers Generally Down At U.S. Colleges This Fall
International student enrollment at U.S. colleges is declining nationwide this fall, signaling potential challenges for the country’s global academic influence and ability to attract top talent. The reduction could undermine research collaboration, decrease funding for innovative programs, and diminish the cultural diversity that supports both student learning and international engagement.
Axios: International Student Enrollment Down On Indiana Campuses
Indiana’s higher education institutions are reporting sharp declines in international student enrollment, creating financial pressures for campuses that rely heavily on tuition revenue. Beyond budget shortfalls, the decline could lead to fewer course offerings, job losses in surrounding communities, and reduced contributions to the state’s innovation and workforce needs.
UPI: Immigration Policy Drawing International Students Away From U.S.
Shifts in U.S. immigration policy, coupled with increasingly restrictive visa practices, are making the country less attractive to prospective international students. The article notes that many students are turning to destinations with clearer immigration pathways, such as Canada and Australia, accelerating the U.S.’s loss of market share in global education.
The Nevada Independent: Nevada’s Premier Universities Continue International Recruitment, Despite Trump’s Policies
Nevada’s flagship universities are maintaining aggressive international recruitment strategies to sustain enrollment and diversify revenue streams, even as federal immigration and visa restrictions have created obstacles for prospective students. Administrators highlight that international tuition remains critical to balancing budgets, particularly as state funding remains unpredictable.
WVXU: International Graduate Student Enrollment At UC Is Down 25% This Year
The University of Cincinnati has reported a steep 25% decline in international graduate student enrollment, a drop that threatens research output, classroom diversity, and long-term institutional revenue. If the trend continues, it could weaken the university’s reputation abroad and deprive the region of skilled workers who often stay after graduation.
Higher Ed Dive: Trump Student Visa Policies Pose Outsized Risk to Specialty Colleges
Colleges that rely heavily on international students, such as small liberal arts schools and specialized institutions, face heightened vulnerability under restrictive student visa policies enacted during the Trump administration. These institutions often lack diversified revenue streams, meaning even modest enrollment drops could trigger budget cuts, program closures, or long-term financial instability.
The PIE News: “Politics Is Policy”: Domestic Agendas Driving Student Mobility
Immigration restrictions and polarizing rhetoric in the United States are reshaping the choices international students make about where to study. These domestic policies are driving more students toward destinations viewed as stable, consistent, and supportive of long-term career pathways.
Study Travel Network: International Enrolments at US Community Colleges May Be Under-Reported
Enrollment at U.S. community colleges may be substantially higher than federal counts indicate, as gaps in reporting systems fail to capture students in non-degree and intensive English programs. These omissions obscure the true size of the sector and complicate efforts to assess its economic contribution.
Other Key International Education Stories
AP: Trump’s Travel Ban Keeps International Students From Coming to the US For College
Trump’s travel ban continues to bar students from targeted countries, leaving classrooms empty and disrupting research collaborations at major universities. This policy undermines America’s ability to attract top global talent, pushing prospective students toward competitor countries with more welcoming immigration systems.
Pew Research Center: Americans Tend to View International Students Positively, Though Some Support Limitations
Most Americans view international students positively and recognize their academic and economic contributions, though some favor restrictions on overall numbers. The survey reveals clear partisan differences, with Republicans more likely to favor limits and Democrats more likely to support growth, reflecting broader national divides over immigration policy, labor markets, and cultural openness.
CNN: Targeted Abroad and Shunned At Home: Chinese Overseas Students Caught In Limbo
Chinese students in the U.S. describe a precarious existence, facing both visa crackdowns and rising suspicion that labels them as potential security risks. At the same time, Beijing pressures them to act as extensions of state influence, leaving students alienated from both countries and struggling with identity and belonging.
Wall Street Journal Letter to the Editor: Senator Jerry Moran - How to Get the U.S. Workforce Back on Track
Senator Moran calls for reforms to retain international students and skilled immigrants as a central strategy for strengthening the U.S. workforce. He argues that labor shortages in high-demand industries cannot be filled without these graduates, who contribute to economic growth and innovation.
Axios: Historically Black Colleges See Funding Boost Despite Trump's War On DEI
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are seeing significant funding increases from federal and state sources, even as the Trump administration continues its efforts to curtail diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The funding growth reflects both bipartisan recognition of HBCUs’ role in workforce development and the political complexity of supporting institutions that serve underrepresented students.
Higher Ed Dive: US Faces Shortfall Of 5.3M College-Educated Workers By 2032
Analysts project that by 2032, the United States will be short more than 5 million workers with college degrees, a gap that threatens to slow economic growth and innovation. Meeting this demand will require both expanded domestic enrollment and more effective strategies for retaining global talent, especially in STEM fields where shortages are most acute.
The Hill: Rubio: Visa Revocations ‘Underway’ Over Charlie Kirk Assassination Celebrations
Senator Marco Rubio revealed that the State Department has already begun revoking visas for foreign nationals who posted celebratory comments about the assassination attempt on conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The action reflects a broader effort to align immigration policy with political and cultural expectations in the U.S., signaling that online behavior abroad can now directly influence visa eligibility.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Op-ed: It's Not About Palestine, DEI or Trans Athletes
Campus debates over issues like Palestine, DEI initiatives, and transgender athletes have dominated headlines, shaping perceptions of higher education priorities. This focus diverts attention from critical governance and policy challenges, including funding, academic quality, and student outcomes, which have a more direct and lasting impact on institutions and the people they serve.
Chemical & Engineering News: Chemistry Is Not Zero-Sum Science
Breakthroughs in chemistry rely on international collaboration that brings together knowledge and resources from multiple countries. Restricting these partnerships slows discovery and reduces the global benefits of scientific progress.
The Guardian: They Managed to Get Accepted to US Universities. But They’re Still Stuck In Gaza
Palestinian students who earned spots at U.S. universities remain unable to leave Gaza due to closed borders and visa processing barriers. Their stalled journeys underscore how political conflict, restrictive travel routes, and delays in U.S. consular services can erase life-changing educational opportunities.
The PIE News: US Visa Changes “Further Widening Global Equity Gap”
Recent changes to U.S. visa policy are making it even harder for students from lower-income countries to pursue higher education abroad. The measures, including tighter financial proof requirements and increased scrutiny, disproportionately block students from the Global South while favoring those with wealth and institutional support.