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Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Top US universities face backlash over rising international enrollment under Trump
For decades, top US universities have aggressively expanded their global reach, enrolling more international students as part of a strategic effort to boost prestige, revenues, and academic competitiveness. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Institutions such as Harvard University and Columbia University now count foreign students as a sizable portion of their student populations. But under President Donald Trump, those international ambitions are facing stiff political resistance. Trump has turned the steady rise in foreign student enrollment into a flashpoint, arguing that these students take away coveted seats from Americans and allow elite universities to sidestep national interests. His administration recently attempted to bar foreign students from entering the US to attend Harvard, using a broad federal law. Although a judge temporarily blocked the move on June 5, 2025, as reported by the AP, the message from the White House is clear: universities that built global campuses are now in the political crosshairs. Elite schools built global appeal over decades Three decades ago, just 11% of Harvard's student body came from outside the US. Today, that number is 26%, according to data analyzed by the AP from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Other Ivy League schools show similar or even higher international representation. Columbia University leads with 39.4% of its students coming from abroad, followed closely by Northeastern University at 39%. At many elite private schools, international enrollment more than doubled between 2013 and 2023. New York University and Northeastern saw especially steep climbs. The chart below shows the percentage of international students at the most selective US colleges in the 2023–24 academic year: University Number of International Students Percent of Student Body (%) Columbia University 13,900 39.4 Northeastern University 12,100 39.0 Harvard University 7,900 25.9 University of Pennsylvania 6,900 24.0 University of Chicago 5,600 30.7 Stanford University 4,600 25.1 Duke University 4,400 25.4 Yale University 3,600 23.6 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 3,500 29.4 Brown University 2,300 19.8 Princeton University 2,100 23.7 Vanderbilt University 1,700 12.9 Dartmouth College 1,400 21.0 California Institute of Technology (Caltech) 788 32.0 Pomona College 213 12.8 Data is for the top 15 most selective colleges in the U.S., Tired of too many ads? go ad free now as measured by admissions rate. Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Visa reviews spark fear of policy retaliation In recent weeks, Trump's administration has tightened student visa reviews, prompting concerns among faculty at Columbia University. In a newsletter quoted by the AP, the Stand Columbia Society wrote, "Columbia's exposure to this 'stroke of pen' risk is uniquely high," referring to the president's authority to act unilaterally. Colleges say their global strategy has long been about attracting the best minds and ensuring financial sustainability. William Brustein, a former university official who led international recruitment efforts, told the AP it became "a gold rush" in higher education as schools chased higher global rankings and tuition revenue. He added that foreign students, who often pay full tuition, help fund scholarships for US students. Graduate programs see biggest international gains According to Harvard, most of its growth in foreign enrollment has occurred at the graduate level. Between 2013 and 2023, its undergraduate foreign student population rose by about 100 students, while graduate programs saw an increase of nearly 2,000. As reported by the AP, William Kirby, a Harvard historian, explained, "If you don't recruit the very best students internationally... then you will not be competitive. " Trump questions fairness, universities defend diversity Trump publicly suggested on May 31, 2025, that Harvard should cap foreign enrollment at 15%, saying at a news conference, "We have people who want to go to Harvard and other schools, they can't get in because we have foreign students there," as reported by the AP. In response, Harvard called the move "yet another illegal retaliatory step," stating in court documents that its international recruitment is the result of a "decades-long project." As quoted by the AP, the university argued that losing student visa access would immediately harm its mission and reputation. A political fault line in higher education Supporters of international enrollment argue that foreign students pour billions into the US economy and fuel critical industries such as tech and engineering. As Rajika Bhandari, a higher education consultant, told the AP, families in countries like India and China are deeply brand-aware and invest heavily to gain admission to Ivy League schools. Now, with internationalization becoming a political fault line, universities face tough questions: Can they maintain their global stature while navigating increasingly nationalistic policy? As the AP noted, in an interconnected global economy, institutions that cannot attract talent from around the world risk falling behind.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Americans in their 20s are now increasingly ditching pricey 4-year colleges — and getting into the trades
Would you rather spend four years accumulating significant debt only to face a competitive job market or enroll in a program at a trade school that equips you with a steady income and leaves you with a managable loan balance? That's the question many young Americans are asking themselves as the economy shifts in fundamental ways. Here's why many twenty-somethings are trading business casual for steel-toed boots. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) A key factor driving young Americans away from a typical degree could be the cost. College tuition at public four-year institutions has surged 141% over the past 20 years, according to the Education Data Initiative, outpacing the general rate of inflation over the same period. Unable to afford tuition, many have turned to student loans to get by. The average federal student loan borrower has $37,853 in debt and it could take roughly 20 years to pay off, says the Education Data Initiative. Paying off that debt is even more of a challenge when recent graduates face a tough job market. The unemployment rate for recent graduates is 5.8%, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, up from 4.6% in May 2024. Perhaps unsurprisingly, college enrollment has been declining. According to data shared by the National Center for Education Statistics, the number of students enrolled in college in the U.S. decreased by roughly 1.4 million between 2012 and 2024. Increasingly, young Americans have turned to trade schools instead. Enrollment in trade schools grew 4.9% from 2020 to 2023, according to Validated Insights, a higher education marketing firm. The annual cost of going to trade school can be as low as $4,200, according to SoFi's summary of Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System data. This price point can make it a cheaper alternative to a typical four-year college degree, depending on the school, program and number of years enrolled. Blue collar jobs in the trades also face a significant talent shortage. A whopping 86% of construction firms reported they were having a hard time filling salaried roles in 2023, according to a survey by the Associated General Contractors of America. The rising enrollment in trade schools could cover some of the skills gap in the long term, but many blue collar industries also face unpredictable hurdles that could limit employment opportunities. Read more: You're probably already overpaying for this 1 'must-have' expense — and thanks to Trump's tariffs, your monthly bill could soar even higher. Here's how 2 minutes can protect your wallet right now Despite the skills shortage, blue collar workers are not immune to the economic cycle. Apollo Global Management expects a recession this summer triggered by tariffs that could impact employment in trucking and retail sectors. Job openings in the construction sector have already dropped just over 25% year over year in March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For a 20-something American who recently graduated from trade school or joined an apprenticeship program, these headwinds can be discouraging. But, as the economy stabilizes and the talent shortage persists, these trade skills could prove to be invaluable over the long-term. If you're looking to start or switch to a new career, it's always best to weigh which profession will offer the highest return on your investment and the most personal fulfillment. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
USA Today
06-02-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Trevecca's president on growth, immigration and the challenges facing Christian higher ed
Dan Boone, president of Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, transitioned off leadership role with Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) as board chairman over two years. At least five CCCU-member institutions closed or merged in past couple years amid enrollment and revenue decline. Meanwhile, Trevecca enrollment losses stabilized. Boone discusses Trevecca's approach to holding in tension different opinions amid broader divisions in Christian higher ed over LGBTQ+ rights, diversity in hiring and admissions, and immigration. Dan Boone, who leads Nashville's Trevecca Nazarene University, just transitioned off his leadership role with the nation's top consortium for evangelical Christian colleges during an especially tumultuous season. For the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities – a nonprofit for which Boone served as the board chair for the past two years – at least five governing member institutions closed or merged due to enrollment losses and revenue declines, according to an analysis of news reports. Meanwhile, a federal lawsuit and a congressional fight over legislation sparked renewed debate about Christian colleges' treatment of LGBTQ+ students, faculty and staff versus those institution's religious freedoms. That fight is part of a broader trend in which social issues on these religiously conservative campuses are increasingly politicized as many evangelicals deepen their loyalty to the Republican Party and President Donald Trump. But Boone's job as Trevecca's president is less black-and-white. For one, he said he has sought for the university to balance different opinions on these highly charged social disputes. 'We (Trevecca) live more in a messy middle where people on both sides of an issue might be a part of the same community, and we think it's quite healthy to come together in our covenant communities and work on these things together,' Boone said in an interview. Also, Trevecca's enrollment has meant the university hasn't faced the type of financial challenges that some peer schools have. The university has repeatedly touted record new student enrollment. Its full-time undergraduate fall enrollment, despite steadily declining year-over-year between 2019-2023 from 1,679 students to 1,328, according to most recently available data reported by the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. But the rate of those enrollment losses have lessened in the years after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to precipitous rates of enrollment decline across higher education. In a Q&A, Boone shared more about his observations about Christian higher education broadly and how it compares to Trevecca's own experience. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Other recent Trevecca news:Trevecca Nazarene University is taking students from a closed sister school. Here's why. What has the past couple years of leadership with the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities taught you about the present state of Christian higher education? Dan Boone: It's how critically necessary Christian higher education is for the kind of citizenship we will have in the future. It is in the Christian universities that the community rooted in Jesus Christ gives us the greatest possibility to have the most difficult conversations between people who disagree vehemently with each other. So, I believe the Christian university may be succeeding at raising up a generation of students who know how to enter the public dialogue on very divisive issues but do so with levels of educational training, rationality, human respect and regard, kindness, neighborliness. Boone related:How a new effort aims to reclaim evangelical Christian label and bridge partisan divides The CCCU and its member institutions have been front and center on a series of politically charged debates within higher education, whether that's about LGBTQ+ rights, diversity in hiring and admissions, and serving students from immigrant families. How have you seen these divisions play out within Christian higher education broadly and how has Trevecca specifically approached it? Boone: I think there are two movements that are colliding. One of those movements is among parents who want their children to have moral footing. At the same time, there's a turn toward a more conservative bent in our nation. Both of those groups come to a college, and you take an issue like human sexuality, and you've got folk over here and over there. At CCCU schools, different faith tribes approach the divisive social issues differently from each other. For us, it's these covenant relationships so the community becomes more important so the way that God guides the community to reconcile it and help it to be a witness and servant in the middle of the world. We believe we have something significant to offer in Christian higher education and we really want our Christian faith to determine how we carry out our mission, instead of a political party. Neighboring faith-based higher ed:Why Nashville's Belmont University is hiring non-Christian faculty and staff Immigration is among the highly contentious and politicized issues facing Christian colleges. Talk more about Trevecca's efforts to serve students from immigrant families and how other Christian colleges have struggled with this question. Boone: We try to serve a lot of different groups. But for a lot of universities, serving DACA students or even undocumented students is a political issue. We are part of a denomination that is global. The DACA students have been the most hardworking and the most serious about their education as any group of students that I've seen come through. For someone to try to lead away to expel them from the country and have something of a federal government mandate behind them, that's a very hard context in which to lead a university. The minute Christian colleges and churches and schools start getting raided (by immigration enforcement), that's going to be a really sad day in America. Amid these social and political debates, Christian colleges are wrestling with a concurrent crisis of decreasing enrollment and revenue loss. In which ways has Trevecca struggled and how does that differ from other struggling CCCU-member institutions? Boone: COVID separated the pack of CCCU schools into ones that were on solid financial footing and the ones that were not. Some of our small and struggling schools received enough federal money through COVID that they were functioning at a better financial level than they were normally. But it kicked the can down the road of whether they could make it. Once the federal cap closed, you began to see that domino effect of a lot closing. The ones that were strong before COVID came through COVID and we took it on the chin. We lost revenue in some of those years. Especially those that have significant adult student pipelines. Trevecca lost 800 adult students during COVID and that's a $6 million revenue line. The reason we're doing better than the average CCCU school is Nashville is growing, it is a buckle of the Bible belt, we have been able to get beyond the denomination that we serve to be the servant of broader Christianity. We've moved from about a 7% diversity to 44% diversity in our student body. So, we've learned to pay attention to the students that are graduating, and we've done well with growing Hispanic, African American, and Coptic Christian student populations. During your tenure as CCCU board chairman, the consortium hired a new chief executive, David Hoag, to succeed longtime CCCU President Shirley Hoogstra. What's Hoag's vision for helping CCCU member institutions in this financially difficult season – especially with an encroaching demographic cliff? Boone: For the new CCCU president, David Hoag, one of the four pillars he's establishing is we really need to create wiser business models for our schools that are failing. We need to have metrics a whole lot earlier to show the trajectory is headed in the wrong way. We need to enhance the possibilities of mergers for them. Maybe as an association we need to create services that are very expensive for colleges that the cost might be shared instead of born with an individual vendor. So, he is really paying attention to the business models to try and help strengthen the weaker among our schools. Liam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at ladams@ or on social media @liamsadams.
