UW–Madison saw steep fall in new international students after Trump administration actions

The University of Wisconsin–Madison experienced a sharp decline in new international students last fall after the Trump administration moved last spring to deport scores of international students, university officials said. Officials said the visa cancellations were eventually reversed, but the episode prompted urgent planning and concern about future enrollments.

University officials said about 8,000 students, or 15 percent of enrollment, are from abroad. Last fall the number of new international undergraduates fell by 25 percent and new international graduate students declined by more than 27 percent; universities around the country reported a 17 percent decrease in new international student enrollments overall.

Officials cited visa restrictions, social media vetting, travel bans and federal research funding cuts as challenges that have forced some schools to limit graduate admissions. Officials and faculty described immediate financial and academic risks: international undergraduates tend to pay full tuition, making up around 10 percent of the undergraduate class and paying nearly 3.5 times as much — about $30,000 more per year — than in-state students, the university said.

A 2024 report from the Association of International Educators, a nonprofit, found that international students at UW–Madison contributed almost $400 million to the local economy.

Key Topics

Politics, International Students, Student Visas, Trump Administration, China