You mentioned OPT, but didn't explain what the acronym stands for (Optional Practical Training - I had to look it up), or what it does. Plain english, please.
Why numbers are dropping:
If a recession is coming, and American unemployment rises, it will be difficult, especially at public universities, to justify admitting & accommodating international students to taxpayers. Yes, these students are paying full freight, but they're more costly than most American students. As in: A university has to have a visa management office/staff/computer system. Not free, not cheap. There's more, but you get the idea.
I’ve updated the article to spell out Optional Practical Training (OPT). Thank you for sharing other observations as well. Here are a few thoughts:
A large and increasing number of US universities levy a dedicated international‑student fee, typically $150–$400 per year, to fund immigration‑advising offices. With a common 1‑to‑300 advisor‑to‑student ratio, this yields about $45K–$120K annually to cover the cost of staff, software, and training. So, compliance costs are borne by international students' fees, not American taxpayers, at the vast majority of institutions that enroll international students.
Like all students, international students cover the cost of their accommodations, which is separate from tuition and fees, and often generate income for universities or local communities, if they are living off campus. International students pay a premium for tuition, often 2-3x more than domestic in‑state students, which covers (and often exceeds) the direct cost of instruction and student services.
While future recessions could alter institutional behavior, from a strictly financial perspective, the net benefits of international enrollment—for universities and their local economies—are well documented, contributing over $43 billion to the US economy last year, according to the latest data available.
You mentioned OPT, but didn't explain what the acronym stands for (Optional Practical Training - I had to look it up), or what it does. Plain english, please.
Why numbers are dropping:
If a recession is coming, and American unemployment rises, it will be difficult, especially at public universities, to justify admitting & accommodating international students to taxpayers. Yes, these students are paying full freight, but they're more costly than most American students. As in: A university has to have a visa management office/staff/computer system. Not free, not cheap. There's more, but you get the idea.
I’ve updated the article to spell out Optional Practical Training (OPT). Thank you for sharing other observations as well. Here are a few thoughts:
A large and increasing number of US universities levy a dedicated international‑student fee, typically $150–$400 per year, to fund immigration‑advising offices. With a common 1‑to‑300 advisor‑to‑student ratio, this yields about $45K–$120K annually to cover the cost of staff, software, and training. So, compliance costs are borne by international students' fees, not American taxpayers, at the vast majority of institutions that enroll international students.
Like all students, international students cover the cost of their accommodations, which is separate from tuition and fees, and often generate income for universities or local communities, if they are living off campus. International students pay a premium for tuition, often 2-3x more than domestic in‑state students, which covers (and often exceeds) the direct cost of instruction and student services.
While future recessions could alter institutional behavior, from a strictly financial perspective, the net benefits of international enrollment—for universities and their local economies—are well documented, contributing over $43 billion to the US economy last year, according to the latest data available.