As the United States tightens its student visa policies, it is the non-Ivy League universities—particularly those in the Midwest and South—that are feeling the most acute pain.
According to recent SEVIS data analysed by higher education expert Professor Chris Glass, international student enrolments across the US dropped by 11% between March 2024 and March 2025, representing a loss of over 130,000 students and a $4 billion economic hit. Smaller universities are especially vulnerable, with some reporting international applications down by as much as 25% since 2023.
Financial strain and programme cuts
The Economist and multiple education analysts have noted that these institutions rely heavily on overseas tuition fees to balance their budgets. With international students often paying full price, their absence is forcing universities to consider programme cuts and staff redundancies.
The financial strain is particularly severe for less prestigious colleges, which lack the global brand recognition of elite schools.
Ivy League insulation
The Trump administration’s aggressive approach — marked by hundreds of visa revocations, anticipated travel restrictions, and threats to cut federal funding for non-compliant institutions — has created a chilling effect.
Harvard University, for example, briefly faced
- a halt in enrolling international students and
- a freeze of $2.2 billion in federal grants before a court intervened.
While Ivy League universities remain relatively insulated due to their reputation, even they have seen a 5% dip in foreign student numbers, according to SEVIS data.
Impact on research and innovation
The impact is not just financial. As Professor Glass points out, international graduate students are “critical scientific infrastructure” for American universities, especially in STEM fields.
A 20.5% drop in foreign enrolments in master’s programmes threatens the US’s standing in global research and innovation. The loss of these students could have long-term consequences for scientific output and the country’s competitive edge.
Reshaping higher education
Experts warn that this is not a cyclical fluctuation but a fundamental restructuring of American higher education. The dramatic shift in international student enrollment is bound to reshape American higher education in ways not seen before and could lead to a new academic scenario that would be difficult to reverse. For many non-Ivy League institutions, the current visa crackdown may prove to be an existential threat.
Attribution: All facts, figures, and analysis in this article are drawn from recent reporting by The Economist, SEVIS data, and commentary from higher education experts.
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