Ohio's international students are in limbo
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Ohio's nearly 37,000 international college students contributed an estimated $1.3 billion to our state economy during the 2023-24 school year, with Ohio State University students vastly outpacing the rest.
Why it matters: Those students' futures — and that money — has come into question as the Trump administration restricts international student enrollment.
The latest: The State Department is halting student visa interviews and revoking visas for Chinese students amid a political pressure campaign against higher education and a broader immigration overhaul.
- A senior Trump administration official told Axios the revoking of visas applies to all Chinese nationals studying in the U.S., and noted the move coincides with trade negotiations between the two countries.
Context: This comes after the Trump administration abruptly revoked student visas nationwide earlier this year.
- Twelve impacted visas at Ohio State were restored in April.
Friction point: The revocation of Chinese students' visas in particular is tied to concerns that their government is using them "to steal our intellectual property on Beijing's behalf," a State Department official told Axios' Marc Caputo.
- Detractors say making it harder for students to come study in the U.S. harms the country's global image, and risks missing out on key talent in hot fields like artificial intelligence.
By the numbers: China was the top country of origin for 55% of Ohio State's 5,901 total international students in the 2023-2024 school year, per enrollment reports.
Zoom in: Ohio's overall international student population helped create and support nearly 11,000 jobs, a report by NAFSA: Association of International Educators estimates.
- Nearly a third — over 3,000 — are attributed to Ohio State's main campus.
Other local schools where international students are having an economic impact, though on a much smaller scale, include: Denison University in Granville ($24.1 million, 108 jobs), Franklin University ($15.5 million, 64 jobs) and Columbus State Community College ($7.3 million, 31 jobs).
What they're saying: "The economic contributions of international students are in addition to the immeasurable academic and cultural value these students bring to our campuses and local communities," NAFSA's report states.
📍 Mapped: International college students across the U.S.
Ohio's number of international students ranked 11th overall in the 2023-24 school year.
By the numbers: Our nearly 37,000 made up about 3.3% of the country's over 1.1 million nationwide, per NAFSA's report.