Fewer International Students Have Enrolled in U.S. Universities

A new study finds that international student enrollment at Canadian colleges and universities increased by 52 percent 

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of foreign students enrolled in US colleges and universities decreased. However, the number of foreign students enrolled in Canadian institutions increased. According to a new study, Indian graduate students in science and engineering have been the most likely to select Canada over the United States because it is much simpler to work on a temporary visa and obtain permanent residency in Canada. The study's findings suggest that American companies and universities may be less competitive in the future.

According to a new study from the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), international student enrollment at U.S. colleges fell 7.2 percent over the 2016-17 and 2019-20 academic years, before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Simultaneously, between 2016-17 and 2019-20, international student enrollment at Canadian colleges and universities increased by 52 percent. This indicates the growing attractiveness of Canadian schools as a result of improved friendly immigration rules in Canada, particularly those allowing international students to obtain temporary work permits and permanent residency.

The pandemic lowered U.S. enrollment further

Between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years, the number of foreign students enrolled in American colleges fell by 22.7 percent. According to NFAP, Canada has not yet published comparable data for 2020-21, but the organization discovered other indicators that Canada also saw a drop in enrollment as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The findings show that immigration policies have a big impact on where talented people choose to live, study, and work. The most recent U.S. statistics are from a National Science Foundation tabulation of Department of Homeland Security international student information, which is limited to those on Optional Practical Training (OPT), a benefit available to some international students to gain valuable hands-on experience and begin contributing their education and training to the U.S. immediately. The data in this section comes from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.

The more stringent U.S. immigration policy has limited Indian students' options. Canada has benefited from a decline in young Indian information technology professionals migrating to the United States. According to Toronto-based immigration lawyer Peter Rekai, the difficulties of obtaining and renewing H-1B visas, as well as finding a dependable route to US permanent residency, are two major reasons why so many people want to become Americans.

The wait time for an Indian immigrant to acquire a green card in the United States under the EB-2 visa — which is a permanent worker visa for advanced degree holders — is expected to be up to 195 years, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS).

Canadian statistics on Indian immigrants are eye-opening. Between 2016 and 2020, the proportion of Indians who became permanent residents in Canada rose 115 percent, according to NFAP's study. Due to technical difficulties in Canada, the average of 2020 and 2021 was used in the calculation.

The NFAP study found that there has been a significant decrease in the number of international students enrolling in master's-level computer science programs in American institutions over the past four to five years. This decrease is largely due to a reduction in graduate students from India pursuing technical degrees. 

The NFAP study found that there has been a significant decrease in the number of international students enrolling in master's-level computer science programs in American institutions over the past four to five years. This decrease is largely due to a reduction in graduate students from India pursuing technical degrees. Between the fall of 2016 and 2019, the number of foreign students enrolled in master's level engineering programs at American institutions fell by 52 percent.

The scenario is comparable to those found in many American engineering schools. Between the fall of 2016 and 2019, the number of international students studying at U.S. universities for master's degrees in computer science fell by 29 percent, from 60,130 to 42,890. During this time period, the number of foreign students enrolled in master's level engineering programs at American institutions fell by 52 percent, or 31,070 people.

If the country's leaders have their way, however, the economic toll of these new policies on students and international employees will be significant. Maintaining the status quo may lead to a decline in international student enrollment and less innovation and prosperity in the American economy.