Billions at risk in Pa. if Trump halts student visas
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Pennsylvania had more than 50,000 international college students in the 2023-24 school year, per data from education nonprofit NAFSA, and an outsized impact on some Pittsburgh universities.
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.
- Fewer international students could squeeze struggling colleges and hurt cities like Pittsburgh that depend on higher ed.
Zoom in: Pennsylvania's international students are estimated to contribute $2.2 billion to the state's economy, per the report.
- International students also supported 22,000 jobs, with the most created at Penn State's main campus, University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon, Pitt and Drexel University (see the full list).
- International students made up 44% of Carnegie Mellon's student body in fall of 2023, per the New York Times — the second-highest share of any university in the nation.
- Data from Pitt and CMU shows the universities enrolled a combined 4,500 students from China alone in fall of 2023 — representing about half of each school's international student population.
What they're saying: Both universities have stayed mostly silent while reviewing Trump's orders.
- CMU Office of International Education executive director Linda Gentile told students in a May 30 letter that the school "remains committed to bringing the best and brightest from around the world to study and engage in teaching and research at CMU."
Zoom out: NAFSA says international students contribute $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy.
Context: Rising wealth in countries like China and India has fueled a two-decade surge in international students at U.S. colleges, per the NYT.
The other side: Detractors argue that making it harder for international 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.
The latest: A federal judge last week extended a temporary order blocking the Trump administration from revoking Harvard University's ability to host international students.