International student enrollment dips in Oregon
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Photo: Courtesy of Portland State University
American universities enrolled fewer international students this fall, the first full academic year to begin under President Trump's second term.
Why it matters: The Trump administration upended the spring semester for international students nationwide, raising questions about international student enrollment this autumn.
- Students faced abrupt visa terminations, legal fights over their academic futures and, in some cases, arrest and detention by immigration agents over political speech.
What they found: A survey of 825 U.S. higher education institutions showed a 17% drop in international students matriculating in the fall for the first time, according to a snapshot by the Institute of International Education.
- Overall enrollment among international students fell 1%: undergraduate enrollment actually increased 2%, but graduate enrollment fell 11%.
Yes, but: Colleges continue to recruit international students.
- The vast majority of surveyed schools said they value international students' perspectives on campus and their financial contributions.
Zoom in: Oregon had more than 7,360 international students on its campuses last academic year, spending an estimated $264 million, per a separate dataset by IIE.
- The majority of them came from India, followed by China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Japan.
- The leading institutions hosting them were Oregon State University, Portland State University, University of Oregon and Portland Community College.
By the numbers: OSU enrolled 2,181 international students this fall — more than a dozen fewer compared with last year.
- The number of international students enrolled at UO has fallen steadily since 2016. This fall, 761 international students were enrolled, 56 less than last year, according to spokesperson Angela Seydel.
- PCC saw a 5.6% drop in international student enrollment from fall 2024 to this fall, which Alicia Adams, director of the Office of International Student Services, attributed to the visa pause, new travel bans and "current political immigration views."
- PSU did not immediately respond to inquiries from Axios.
Friction point: International students are a key revenue source for colleges, as they are not eligible for financial aid and typically pay full cost.
- Many of Oregon's universities have increased the price of tuition in recent years to accommodate rising labor costs and inflation, so any drop in enrollment could spell out future financial concern.
What we're watching: International students have to decide whether they plan to visit family over winter break or stay on campus and avoid potential travel headaches before the spring semester.