Trump policies bring uncertainty for Arizona's international college students
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Arizona had more international students than all but a dozen states last school year, per data from NAFSA, an international education nonprofit.
Why it matters: The Trump administration is halting student visa interviews and revoking visas for Chinese students amid a political pressure campaign against colleges and universities and a broader immigration crackdown.
A big drop in international students could hurt college town economies, some of which are already struggling due to lower enrollment.
By the numbers: There were nearly 28,000 international college students enrolled in Arizona schools in the 2023-24 academic year.
- That represented a $917 million contribution to Arizona's economy.
- The bulk were enrolled at ASU, and the university tells Axios it currently has more than 17,000 international students.
- More than 3,600 international students attend UofA, while NAU has about 1,400.
Zoom out: California, New York and Texas have the greatest shares of the approximately 1.1 million international college students nationwide.
- Of all international students studying in the U.S. during the 2023-24 school year, about 12.5% were doing so at schools in California, 12.1% in New York and 8% in Texas.
- Massachusetts (7.3%) and Illinois (5.5%) round out the top five, per NAFSA's latest report.
What they're saying: ASU has one of the largest international student bodies in the U.S., spokesperson Jerry Gonzalez tells Axios, and the university "is monitoring the situation closely and remains committed to fully supporting all international students in completing their degree programs."
- In a video recorded on the last day of classes for the spring semester, university president Michael Crow said no ASU students had been removed from the U.S., and things are "back on track" for any students who had recent visa issues.
- UofA spokesperson Mitch Zak said it's too early to tell how Trump administration policies could affect the 2025-26 school year.
- NAU "continues to evaluate federal actions and where they might affect university operations," spokesperson Kimberly Ann Ott told Axios.