Trump cancels enrollment of foreign students at Harvard, targeting key revenue of US universities

(Patria) - The latest blow from the Trump administration against Harvard University, the cancellation of foreign student enrollment, has affected all of higher education, as it targets the main source of revenue for hundreds of schools across the United States, Reuters reported.

Since international students more often pay full tuition, they essentially subsidize other students who receive aid, said education consultant Chuck Ambrose, former president of the University of Central Missouri.

The administration's move to halt foreign student enrollment is a huge blow to Harvard and sends a message to other universities: "You could be next," said Robert Kelchen, a professor at the University of Tennessee who researches university finances.

Kristi Noem, Trump's homeland security advisor, said the same on Thursday on Fox News. Noem was asked whether the administration is considering similar moves at other universities, including Columbia University in New York. "Absolutely, we are considering," she replied.

"This should be a warning to every other university to get its act together."

Harvard's 6,800 international students make up 27% of total enrollment.

According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2023, foreign students made up an even larger share at 43 other schools with at least 1,000 students.

At Columbia University, which the Trump administration accuses of antisemitic policies, foreign students made up 39% of total enrollment in 2023, NCES data shows. At 246 other schools with at least 1,000 enrolled students, at least 10% were foreign students.

This comes as universities struggle to offset massive cuts in research funding from the federal government. Harvard, which the Trump administration claims failed to address antisemitism and ethnic harassment on campus, has in recent weeks seen the freezing or cancellation of federal contracts and research grants worth nearly three billion dollars. Neither Harvard nor Columbia commented on the financial impact of Thursday's moves.

"It's just another financial blow on top of several blows that have already hit major research universities," Kelchen said.

"At this point, the only thing untouched is financial aid for students."