China’s economy continues to falter, with a noticeable decrease in residents’ income and increasing pressure on the middle class. In 2025, the number of Chinese students studying abroad decreased for the first time in five years. At the same time, international schools that were once seen as a pathway to prestigious overseas universities by numerous middle-class families are facing the awkward situation of not being able to attract enough students.
On April 10, the Chinese state-run media Xinhua News Agency learned from the Ministry of Education’s Overseas Study Service Center that in 2025, the number of Chinese students studying abroad exceeded 570,000, with around 535,600 returning to China.
According to data released by the Ministry of Education and the “China Study Abroad Development Report” and other institutions, since the “Reform and Opening” policy in 1978, the scale of studying abroad has continued to grow. It peaked at 703,500 in 2019. Due to the global pandemic, the number sharply declined to 450,900 in 2020, then rose to 661,200 in 2022 and continued to increase, reaching 684,400 in 2023, and returning to around 700,000 in 2024.
However, in 2025, the number of Chinese students studying abroad decreased for the first time in five years, dropping by approximately 130,000 from 2024 to 570,000, representing an 18.6% decrease.
As the number of students studying abroad declines, international schools within China are also struggling to attract enough students.
According to a report on April 10 by “Sanlian Life Weekly,” three years ago, the open days of popular international schools in Beijing’s Haidian district were bustling with parents eager to enroll their children. Now, the situation has changed drastically.
The same is happening in Shanghai: in 2025, the number of applicants for the high school entrance exam reached a new record of 127,000, almost 10,000 more than the previous year. However, the enrollment numbers for international high schools decreased. Even well-established international schools are facing the embarrassing situation of not being able to attract enough students. This trend is unprecedented and happening nationwide.
Why have international schools, once considered a stepping stone to prestigious overseas universities by numerous middle-class families, suddenly lost their appeal?
The report indicates that many parents used to flock to these schools, believing that “investing in their children’s education is worth every penny.” However, this belief had two basic premises: parents had enough money, and the investment would pay off in the long run. Now, both of these assumptions are being challenged.
In recent years, as the wealth of the middle class has decreased, once affluent families facing job cuts are realizing the harsh reality that finding a high-paying job like before is not easy. With more families having to live within their means, they are reconsidering whether it is necessary to spend a hefty amount to send their children to international schools.
The times have changed, and studying abroad has become more challenging, with limited prospects even for graduates of top universities like Cambridge and Oxford returning to China.
A trending topic labeled “Middle-Class Parents Start Abandoning International Schools” on April 10 sparked heated discussions online.
Netizens expressed their views: “Because income expectations have decreased.” “Because many middle-class families have fallen into poverty.” “Simply put, wealth has shrunk, and consumption has downgraded.” “Fundamentally, the substantial decrease in middle-class income has put immense pressure on them.” “The main reason is the decrease in income expectations, otherwise why target the middle class instead of the wealthy.” “This indicator is more realistic than GDP.” “Income expectations + difficulty in staying abroad after graduation + job prospects upon return.” “Returning means doing delivery or driving for ride-hailing services.” “It’s better to spend the money on children.”