Foreign undergraduate student headcount actually increased this past year

[Anonymous]

"Conversely, undergraduate international enrollment grew by 3.2 percent, driven by growth at public four-year colleges, which also saw modest growth in graduate foreign student enrollment."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/01/15/college-enrollment-10-year-high/

I guess America's colleges are just too attractive to the rest of the world. The folks at reddit would have you believe no one wants to study in the US anymore. Quite the bubble they live in.

[Anonymous]

Wow. International or domestic, too many students - too few spots. Stories of all the insanely qualified kids being deferred or denied this year from target schools is beyond belief.

[Anonymous]

You forgot to include the sentence about graduate international enrollment:

Graduate international enrollment declined by nearly 6 percent in the fall, a stark departure from the 50 percent growth between 2020 and 2024, according to the report. Conversely, undergraduate international enrollment grew by 3.2 percent, driven by growth at public four-year colleges, which also saw modest growth in graduate foreign student enrollment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You forgot to include the sentence about graduate international enrollment:

Graduate international enrollment declined by nearly 6 percent in the fall, a stark departure from the 50 percent growth between 2020 and 2024, according to the report. Conversely, undergraduate international enrollment grew by 3.2 percent, driven by growth at public four-year colleges, which also saw modest growth in graduate foreign student enrollment.

So that's the new plan for those internationals who can afford it? Get in very early in undergrad and just stay here. The H1bs I work with all have grad degrees from the US but not undergrad.

[Anonymous]

I thought that the United States was a pariah in the world and that hordes of students were opting to study in Canada and China instead of the US?

Was I wrong to listen to the Reddit crowd?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought that the United States was a pariah in the world and that hordes of students were opting to study in Canada and China instead of the US?

Was I wrong to listen to the Reddit crowd?

The reddit crowd also has international students asking a thousand times per day how to get a full ride to college in the US.

[Anonymous]

Everybody wants to be on a winning team.

[Anonymous]

I wish public schools would prioritize the education of our American children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You forgot to include the sentence about graduate international enrollment:

Graduate international enrollment declined by nearly 6 percent in the fall, a stark departure from the 50 percent growth between 2020 and 2024, according to the report. Conversely, undergraduate international enrollment grew by 3.2 percent, driven by growth at public four-year colleges, which also saw modest growth in graduate foreign student enrollment.

We need to cut both undergraduate/graduate foreign students by at least 50%. China, Russia, India, Iran etc. are stealing too much sensitive/advanced technologies. US must win the AI race against China.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought that the United States was a pariah in the world and that hordes of students were opting to study in Canada and China instead of the US?

Was I wrong to listen to the Reddit crowd?

The reddit crowd also has international students asking a thousand times per day how to get a full ride to college in the US.

The reddit crowd professes its hatred of the United States then promptly floods its universities with applications, most of which are from needy students. That about sums up the state of the world we live in. I wonder if "irony" appeared on any of the international SAT exams?

[Anonymous]

The delusion is strong.

https://www.reddit.com/r/InternationalStudents/comments/1jtjtjo/are_any_international_applicants_not_choosing_us/

[Anonymous]

Not wanting to piss off anyone here but did you even know that it is MUCH easier for international students to get in several US universities than it is for Americans?

Just search Shorelight, Into, Kaplan, Navitas….
International Kids with MUCH LOWER credentials get into several US schools when AMericans have a much higher hurdle to get in….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish public schools would prioritize the education of our American children.

Agree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not wanting to piss off anyone here but did you even know that it is MUCH easier for international students to get in several US universities than it is for Americans?

Just search Shorelight, Into, Kaplan, Navitas….
International Kids with MUCH LOWER credentials get into several US schools when AMericans have a much higher hurdle to get in….

Yes.

[Anonymous]

While you’re at it, also research how kids in rural districts need much lower stats to get in than kids from NOVA. And how an NMS in Montana needs a 210 vs a VA kid that needs a 225.