Potential decline in foreign students attending universities in Massachusetts this autumn may pose significant challenges. Here's an explanation.
A significant drop in new international student enrollment could have a profound impact on the economy and universities in Massachusetts, according to various reports and analyses.
Massachusetts is one of the top states hosting international students, with the fourth-highest number of foreign students attending its universities and colleges. According to a study by NAFSA: Association of International Educators, this fall could see a drop of up to 40% in new international student enrollment in the U.S., which could have far-reaching consequences for the state.
Jon Marcus, the higher education editor of the Hechinger Report, predicts that Massachusetts will lose more than 12,000 international students this fall. This loss could lead to tens of thousands of lost jobs in the state and reduce spending on tuition, housing, and local services, hurting the state economy.
Universities in Massachusetts, particularly highly-ranked ones like Boston University, Harvard, MIT, and others, rely heavily on international students for revenue and campus diversity. A 40% enrollment drop in new international students could strain budgets, especially at private institutions.
International students contribute significantly to the entrepreneurial economy of Massachusetts, particularly in tech companies. The loss of these students could pose a problem for residents of Massachusetts, as many of their neighbors work at colleges. Moreover, international students starting their own companies in Massachusetts employ other people, including Americans.
The decrease in international student enrollment could also have long-term workforce implications. International students increasingly fill STEM and other high-demand fields in the U.S. economy, with OPT (work authorization) participation growing significantly. A decline in new enrollments would limit this pipeline, affecting local innovation and the labor market in Massachusetts, a hub for technology and biotech.
Although recent years showed a rebound and even growth in international student enrollment nationally, visa difficulties and policy changes have introduced uncertainty. Early 2025 data show visa issuance dropped sharply, which could foreshadow enrollment declines. Massachusetts universities will be vulnerable if these trends persist.
Earlier this summer, a federal court temporarily halted two efforts by the Department of Homeland Security to stop Harvard University from enrolling international students. Despite this, funding cuts and immigration policies may keep many international students out of Massachusetts and the United States this fall.
In conclusion, a 40% enrollment drop would reduce important economic contributions and could force Massachusetts universities to adjust financially and operationally. The state economy would face job and spending losses, and its innovation ecosystem could be weakened due to fewer international STEM graduates staying to work. The precise scale depends on timing, policy responses, and how quickly enrollment recovers.
[1] NAFSA: Association of International Educators. (2021). International students in the U.S. 2021. Retrieved from https://www.nafsa.org/research-and-policy/analysis-and-report/nafsa-reports-and-publications/international-students-us-2021
[2] Marcus, J. (2021, July 13). The pandemic's impact on international students has been devastating. Here's what colleges can do to help. The Hechinger Report. Retrieved from https://hechingerreport.org/the-pandemics-impact-on-international-students-has-been-devastating-heres-whats-colleges-can-do-to-help/
[3] Marcus, J. (2021, February 15). Colleges need to be more honest about the impact of international students. The Hechinger Report. Retrieved from https://hechingerreport.org/colleges-need-to-be-more-honest-about-the-impact-of-international-students/
[4] Keller, J. (2021, July 16). The international student crisis. WBZ-TV News. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/the-international-student-crisis-wbz-tv-news-at-5-6pm/
- The drop in new international student enrollment predicted by Jon Marcus and outlined in his article for The Hechinger Report could have far-reaching consequences, not just for universities in Massachusetts, but also for the state's economy and workforce.
- Education-and-self-development sectors in Massachusetts may be particularly affected by this decline, as international students increasingly fill high-demand fields like STEM, contributing to the state's innovation and technology ecosystem.
- General news reports and analyses suggest that Massachusetts, being one of the top states hosting international students, stands to lose more than 12,000 international students this fall, potentially leading to job losses, spending reductions, and a weakening of the state's entrepreneurial economy, particularly in tech companies.
