AKRON, Ohio — Many colleges and universities have reported a decline in the number of enrolled international students over the last four years, during President Trump's administration. Of course, the pandemic has also been a major factor this year. Some college campuses might start seeing an increase in international students under a Biden administration.

What You Need To Know

  • International students make up 5.5% of the total U.S. higher education population

  • In 2018-19 the United States hit an all time high, with more than one million international students studying in the United States

  • International students contributed $44.7 billion to the U.S. economy in 2018

International students make up 5.5% of the total US higher education population. According to the 2019 Open Door report on international educational exchange in the 2018-19 academic year the United States hit an all time high with more than one million international students studying in the United States.

"Overall enrollment has continued to increase at US institutions for international students, but, by very small fractions each year during the Trump administration," said Robyn Brown the Executive Director of Global Engagement at the University of Akron. "So it's a much slower growth rate than what we were seeing before."

Brown also says she can't blame the political climate alone for the small increases in international student populations.

"International student enrollment is such a mix of different factors," said Brown. "There's the economic conditions, the pandemic, there are so many factors that go into international student enrollment."

However, she does think it's had an impact.

"I think it really has had a big impact and that students were feeling unwelcome and now they're feeling more hopeful," said Brown.

Under a new administration it's believed international students will feel more at ease and able to choose the United States as they move forward in their academic career.

"Under the Biden administration we are expecting to see and increased confidence that students abroad as well as their parents will have in the feeling that the students are welcome in the U.S.," said Brown.

Currently there is a regulatory change underway in the US Department of Homeland Security that concerns universities and college all over the country. They hope it can be altered or rescinded before it goes into effect.

"Because right now international students are admitted to the US for what's called duration of status," said Brown. "Which means they can stay if they're still pursuing their academic objective or doing an authorized practical training that's part of that academic program."

However, the new rule that's been proposed during the Trump Administration would remove the certainty and the reliance that international students have that they can stay here to finish their academic career.

"They would have to apply to renew their status every few years," said Brown. "It's also an expense to them it's a lot of waiting, they might not be able to participate in internships while they're' waiting they might get behind in their program. So students might invest tens of thousands of dollars and get halfway through their program and have to go home. So, it's hard for them to consider coming to the United States if that's the kind of uncertainty they're facing."

Brown says this is not just detrimental for the international population, but the domestic as well.

"With so many countries that are multinational you're going to be working with others from different backgrounds and if you don't learn to do that in the environment of a classroom, a residence hall, in your everyday community activities then you're going to have a hard time being a successful employee as well," said Brown.

According to data from the US Department of Commerce, international students contribute $44.7 billion to the US economy in 2018, which is an increase of 5.5% from the previous year. While that's a big number, circumstances have made the economic and international increases smaller but Brown says she is confident to see a bigger increase in the near future.

"I think that international students are starting to now see again that the United States is saying you're welcome her," said Brown.

Brown says her and her staff are "cautiously optimistic" about what a Biden administration could do for international enrollment for universities across the nation.