Chinese students are showing less interest in higher education in the United States, which has long been a popular destination for Chinese families seeking a U.S. college education. According to experts, many Chinese students are now considering alternative countries for their education. This trend is significant as China has been the top source of international students in the U.S. for over a decade, providing substantial revenue for American universities and colleges.
While the number of Chinese students enrolled in U.S. higher education institutions, including those on Optional Practical Training (OPT), almost tripled over the last 10 years, from less than 130,000 in the 2009-10 academic year to over 370,000 in 2019-20, last year saw an 8.6% decline in Chinese students studying in the U.S., with about 290,000 enrolled. Meanwhile, Indian student enrollment in the U.S. increased by 19% compared to the previous year, approaching 200,000.
The decline in Chinese student enrollment in the U.S. last year can be partially attributed to pandemic travel restrictions, but data from the Institute of International Education (IIE) shows that enrollment had already plateaued during the 2017-18 academic year, when 363,000 Chinese students were studying in the U.S. Analysts suggest that Chinese students are now increasingly looking to other countries for their education.
New Oriental, a Chinese education company, conducted surveys revealing that in 2015, half of Chinese students planning to study abroad wanted to study in the U.S., while this percentage dropped to 30% in 2022, with those wanting to study in the U.K. jumping from 32% to 41%. The University of Toronto has seen a gradual increase in Chinese student enrollment over the last decade, with about 15,700 Chinese students enrolled in the 2022-23 school year, up from about 6,000 in the 2013-14 academic year.
A decline in Chinese enrollment in U.S. universities could significantly impact American university revenue streams, as Chinese students contributed nearly $15 billion to the U.S. economy in 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Arizona State University noted that its Chinese student enrollment in fall 2022 was about 17% below that of fall 2019, and the university is exploring strategies to reduce the total cost of a degree for Chinese students.
Factors contributing to Chinese students’ declining interest in studying in the U.S. include persistent gun violence, rising anti-Asian racism, rocky U.S.-China relations, a slowing Chinese economy, higher global rankings for Chinese universities, and friendlier immigration policies in many other countries. U.S. immigration policies may also be deterring some Chinese students from studying in the U.S., as they need to update their status frequently, and there is a limited number of H-1B visas for foreign workers with specialized skills.
Despite these challenges, many experts remain confident that Chinese students will still consider the U.S. as a prime destination due to its longstanding reputation for providing quality higher education. However, studying abroad is becoming more accessible for Chinese students worldwide, and for those who prioritize education at top schools, the U.S. still comes out on top.
(Source: Axios) (Photo from splash.com)
