The Open Door study surveyed over 2,000 American universities about their international enrollment from the previous year. Then they conducted a “snapshot survey” of 500 institutions.

The survey revealed that there was a 7% drop in international students coming to the US from fall 2016 to fall 2017. In fact, 45% of universities in the country reported a drop in the admission of new international students. Out of the colleges interviewed, 68% cited the reason for the decrease coming from visa delays or denials, which marks a significant spike from 35% in the previous year. The remaining reasons primarily had to do with “the social and political environment in the US.”

There has been speculation that the election of President Trump factored into the enrollment decline. For example, the University of Houston has recently seen a 27% decrease in international enrollment. By contrast, the university had a 30% spike in admissions from 2013-2016. Former admissions director at the University of Houston Jeff Fuller shared that numerous students from abroad have expressed their anxiety over the anti-immigrant rhetoric from the current administration. Fuller told the Houston Chronicle, "How accepting would a campus be of an international student when everything they see on TV shows 'build a wall?'"

In the coming year, universities watch anxiously to see if the declines represent a passing trend or a long-term issue. Only time will tell.