International student interest in the US endures under Trump

The US election and Trump’s return to the presidency have improved the US’ standing in the eyes of more than half of international students surveyed by IDP in the early weeks of the President’s second term.  

Students from Bangladesh recorded the greatest improvement in perception ofthe US, with 64% expressing that the appeal of the country had increased since the election.  

In India, this number was 48%, and in China, 27% of students thought the US had become a more attractive study destination since Trump’s return to the White House.  

“The strong interest from prospective students and applicants reinforces that the US has ongoing appeal as a top destination due to its high quality of education and job prospects,” IDP chief partner officer Simon Emmett told The PIE News.  

“In recent IDP Education research we have seen evidence that the US is benefiting from evolving policy environments in other leading markets like the UK and Australia,” he added.  

Just over a quarter of the 1,000 surveyed students said their perception of the US had declined, with the large regional variations serving as a reminder that international students are not one homogeneous group, said Emmett.  

“International students have very different motivations, ambitions and concerns when it comes to studying abroad. The findings remind us that there is no ‘one size fits all’ message for international students across the globe,” he said.  

Notably, if Trump’s widely expected travel ban is implemented, 27% of Chinese respondents and 23% of Pakistani respondents in IDP’s study indicated they would no longer consider studying in the US.  

Nearly two-thirds of overall respondents indicated that their perception of the US as a welcoming destination would worsen if the travel ban came into play.  

The findings remind us that there is no ‘one size fits all’ message for international students across the globe

Simon Emmett, IDP

The high quality of US education, the reputation of its institutions and the availability of cutting-edge technology were the factors most cited by students as attracting them to the US. 

Meanwhile, pathways to permanent residency, post-graduation work visas and international student diversity were considered the study destination’s lowest pull factors in the IDP study. 

An additional survey by Anna Esaki-Smith, Education Rethink co-founder and Interstride edtech platform, further indicated that interest in the US is enduring despite funding freezes, workforce reductions and a mooted travel ban causing extreme instability across college campuses.  

Of the 300 students surveyed during Trump’s early weeks in office, nearly 40% said they felt positively about the US, with the same amount saying they were neutral, while just over 15% felt negative.  

What’s more, 75% of students said they were likely to recommend the US as a study destination to friends and family.  

In both surveys, students agreed that the quality of US education was a major pull factor, though where they differed was in student perception of career opportunities, which was the most cited reason for choosing the US by Interstride students.  

During Trump’s presidential campaign, a row over H1-B visas thrust the future of America’s post-graduation work route (OPT) into the limelight, although the program – which comprised of nearly 250,000 international students in 2024 – appears to be safe for now.  

Following India surpassing China to become the US’ largest source country of international students, Trump and Indian prime minister Narenda Modi have advocated for stronger educational ties between the two education powerhouses.

Despite the survey’s votes of confidence in the US, the policy environment remains highly unstable for international students, with almost half of Interstride respondents said they were considering a ‘Plan B’ host country in case of potential immigration challenges.  

“While the US still holds strong appeal for international students with its high-quality programs and career opportunities, it is evident that students are much more mindful of their options than before,” wrote Esaki-Smith.   

The policy environment was rocked once again last week when Republican politicians proposed a new bill to halt the issuance of all US study visas to Chinese nationals, having dramatic implications for international education if it is signed into law.  

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