Universities in the U.S. have come to rely on revenue from Chinese students, who contributed $14.9 billion to the economy in 2018 alone. But growth has leveled off, after years of double-digit increases – for reasons ranging from concerns about gun violence to Trump administration policies on China.
Now institutions are wondering if a Biden administration might do enough to reverse the trend of a thinning pipeline. The incoming president has signaled his appreciation for the talent and diversity international students bring, and announced plans to grant green cards to foreign graduates of U.S. doctoral programs.
Why We Wrote This
The pandemic looks likely to keep more students at home – not just logging in to class from their couch, but also studying in their own country, rather than going abroad. What’s at stake for schools?