US Colleges’ International Enrollment: Boston Globe

US colleges anticipate a steep drop in enrollment of international students due to the Covid-19 pandemic, travel uncertainty, global recession and job losses, anti-immigrant sentiment and visa policies. About 90 percent of US colleges and universities anticipate a decline in international students and a significant drop in revenues, reports a Institute of International Education survey. “Many foreign students pay full tuition, helping offset discounts offered to lure American undergraduates to campus, and ensuring that university budgets remain in the black,” reports Deirdre Fernandes for the Boston Globe. “International students also bring a diversity of experience and skills to campuses and help power the cutting edge research done at the graduate level, university leaders have said.” Most colleges transferred courses from classrooms to online in the middle of the most recent spring semester, and the California State University System already announced that fall classes will be online. Consultants recommend that colleges determine schedules quickly, accommodating students in other time zones, and improve online programs, emphasizing engagement. Higher-ranked colleges anticipate losing fewer students, but programs and budgets could influence those rankings. – YaleGlobal