As U.S. colleges and universities resume classes this fall, early projections suggest fewer international students are enrolling compared with recent years. In 2023-24, the United States hosted more than 1.1 million international students, the highest number on record.
A new Pew Research Center survey conducted in September reveals Americans broadly support the presence of international students but remain divided on restrictions and visa policies.
Strong support for international students
Nearly eight in ten Americans, or 79%, say it is good for U.S. universities to accept international students. This includes large majorities across both political parties. Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, support reaches 93%. Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, two-thirds (66%) share this view.
Education levels also influence opinions. Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher are more likely than those without one to say international students benefit U.S. campuses (87% vs. 76%).
Support for restrictions on students from specific countries
Despite overall support, many Americans favor limits on students from certain countries.
Half of respondents say the U.S. should reduce the number of Chinese students. Around four in ten favor limiting students from India (44%), Nigeria (42%), and South Korea (41%). About one-third would limit Canadian students (34%).
Partisan differences are clear. Republicans are significantly more likely than Democrats to support restrictions on students from all the countries surveyed. A majority of Republicans back limits on students from China, Nigeria, India, and South Korea.
Age also matters. Older adults are more likely than younger ones to favor restrictions, regardless of political affiliation.
Attitudes toward visa cancellations over foreign policy criticism
Another area of division is whether the U.S. should cancel the visas of international students who criticize American foreign policy.
Overall, 42% of adults say the government should have this power, while 56% oppose it.
The partisan gap is sharp. Seventy percent of Republicans support visa cancellations in this scenario, compared with just 16% of Democrats.
Among Republicans, age influences opinion. A large majority of Republicans 50 and older (82%) favor cancellations, compared with 58% of those under 50. Older Democrats are slightly more likely than younger Democrats to support the idea, though opposition remains dominant across the party.
Education also plays a role. Within both parties, adults with a bachelor’s degree or more are more likely than those without to oppose visa cancellations.
Public knowledge about international student numbers
When asked to estimate the share of international students enrolled in U.S. colleges, few Americans answered correctly. Only 12% knew the actual share is less than 10%. More than four in ten guessed it was higher than 10%, while another 45% admitted they did not know.
Democrats were slightly more accurate than Republicans (14% vs. 10%), though overall knowledge remained low. Republicans were more likely than Democrats to believe foreign students make up more than 20% of U.S. college enrollment (23% vs. 17%).
A complex balance between support and caution
The survey underscores the mixed attitudes Americans hold toward international students. While strong majorities value their presence in higher education, concerns about specific countries, political loyalty, and security remain significant.
With international enrollment dipping after reaching record highs, U.S. colleges face both opportunities and challenges. Policymakers must balance the economic and cultural benefits of hosting international students with rising public concerns about security, competition, and political influence.
