Trump’s attack on Harvard’s foreign students targets key revenue for US universities

WASHINGTON - The Trump administration’s latest blow against Harvard University –

cutting off its ability to enrol foreign students

– rippled throughout higher education on May 22, because it is aimed at a major source of revenue for hundreds of schools across the United States.

As international students are more likely to pay full tuition fees, they essentially subsidise other students who receive aid, said educational consultant Chuck Ambrose, former president of the University of Central Missouri.

The administration’s move to stop foreign enrolment is a huge blow to Harvard and sends a message to other universities that “you could be next”, said Professor Robert Kelchen from the University of Tennessee who researches university finances.

Homeland Security Adviser Kristi Noem said as much on May 22 during an appearance on The Story with Martha MacCallum on Fox News. Ms Noem was asked if the administration was considering similar moves at other universities, including Columbia University in New York. “Absolutely, we are,” she responded. “This should be a warning to every other university to get your act together.”

Harvard’s 6,800 international students make up 27 per cent of its total enrolment. In 2023, foreign students made up an even higher share at 43 other schools with at least 1,000 students, according to data from the National Centre for Education Statistics (NCES).

At Columbia University, which the Trump administration accuses of anti-Semitic policies, foreign students made up 39 per cent of total enrolment in 2023, the NCES data shows. At 246 other schools with an enrolment of at least 1,000, at least 10 per cent of students were from outside the US.

The May 22 announcement comes as universities are already scrambling to make up for huge federal cuts in research funding. Harvard, which the Trump administration says has failed to address anti-Semitism and ethnic harassment on campus, has seen nearly US$3 billion (S$3.9 billion) in federal contracts and research grants frozen or ended in recent weeks. Neither Harvard nor Columbia had comment on the financial impact of the latest move.

Prof Kelcen said: “It’s just another financial hit on top of several hits that have already come for big research universities. At this point, the only thing that hasn’t been touched is student financial aid.” REUTERS