Arizona State University begins the new school year with less international students compared to the previous fall. University officials attribute the decline to changes in federal visa guidance.
ASU officials project about 14,600 international students will be enrolled this fall.
It’s the first time fall year-over-year international enrollment has declined since 2020.
In a statement, the university cited the challenges international students have faced scheduling visa appointments under new Trump administration guidelines.
Matt López is ASU’s deputy vice president of enrollment.
“Our purpose is to provide education to everyone eligible and capable of being here. And so there are certainly financial implications. There’s enrollment implications," he said.
International students have other opportunities to join ASU, López says, including deferring their admission.
“These students are critically important to us for many reasons. And so we will continue to design new ways to support these students. We will continue to recruit new students," he said.
