NAFSA Projects $3.4 Billion Loss to U.S. Economy from Precipitous Drop in International Students
Preliminary projections by NAFSA and JB International reveal that U.S. executive actions such as the implementation of visa bans and disruptions in visa interviews and processing could have a significant negative effect on local economies in the United States.
The analysis, which is based on responses from representatives of U.S. institutions of higher education to the Institute of International Education's Spring 2026 Snapshot on International Educational Exchange, estimates a 9.5 percent drop in overall international enrollment this fall. Up to 111,000 fewer international students at U.S. colleges and universities would translate to the loss of approximately $3.4 billion in spending and more than 39,000 jobs from local economies.
“The projections underscore what we’ve long warned: U.S. policy and regulations affect where international students plan to invest their future—and their decisions carry significant short- and long-term consequences for U.S. society and economy,” said NAFSA Executive Director and CEO Fanta Aw in NAFSA's press release on the new analysis.
It's not only international education organizations that warn of the negative economic impact of declining international enrollment at U.S. institutions. Last week, Fitch Ratings, a national credit-rating agency, issued a statement warning that U.S. policy changes and the resulting decline in international enrollment could place increased financial pressure on U.S. colleges and universities.
