The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted all aspects of people’s lives, especially for international students studying in the United States. With college campuses forced to shut down, international students hurried back to their home countries to continue classes online, or stayed behind in the US with the uncertainty of visa processing looming. Universities have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars, due to, among many other factors, cancelled endowments, funds, and summer programs. What impact will COVID-19 have on prospective international students and how will it affect the higher education institutions in the U.S.? 

Why are international students important for U.S. higher education institutions? 

International students are the backbone of American colleges and universities. In 2019, over 430,000 international students were enrolled as undergraduates, 12,000 international students in professional degrees programs like law or business, and more than 132,000 were enrolled in Ph.D. programs. International students mostly pay full tuition when attending American higher education institutions and international doctoral students are vital in university teaching and research. 

The downside of the pandemic

No clear guidance on the future of higher education exist for international students

Even before COVID-19 struck, competition for international students was fierce. With all the uncertainties posed by COVID-19, the competition for international students will increase even more. Governments and universities in North America, the UK and Australia say they are preparing for a drop in international students of potentially 50% to 75%. Instead, the pandemic will most likely boost the relative appeal of opportunities closer to international students’ home countries since they pose fewer uncertainties regarding visa issues and travel restrictions. In addition, the pressure of the pandemic on the economy and job markets around the globe are negatively affecting families’ abilities to afford their education in the near future. A recent survey by Niche revealed that  93% of college students are concerned about  paying for their education and 22% of college students are considering transferring or taking at least one semester off for the upcoming fall semester. 

The upside of the pandemic

International higher education may become accessible more than ever

Driven by growth in middle classes in Asia and Africa, the demand for higher education is set to increase from 160 million students in 2015 to more than 414 million by 2030, according to Unesco. Because American college tuition for international students is exorbitantly high, international education was often reserved to families who have the resources to afford the cost. However, the crisis pushed higher education institutions to use technology to accelerate immersive virtual learning experiences. This may open doors for middle-income families abroad who previously may have thought the traditional international study programs were out of their reach. 

To read more, check this article from the Financial Times

The coronavirus pandemic has put insurmountable stress on international students. International students have had to worry not only about their own health but also about visa issues and interrupted studies. It is our hope that more institutions and organizations offer transparent support for all new and existing international students in the United States.