According to a recent survey, nearly three-quarters of international students interviewed stated that the outcome of the US presidential election would not affect their decision to pursue a graduate business degree in the United States.
On Monday, September 30th, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) released the survey targeting potential international applicants.
The survey results, as reported by Bloomberg, showed a significant shift in the applicants’ perspectives compared to the previous two presidential elections.
In the surveys conducted in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2024, 48%, 47%, 51%, and 72% of respondents respectively indicated that the election results of that year would not impact their decision to pursue a business graduate degree in the US.
Evidently, applicants may be more inclined to consider policies rather than politics.
Andrew Walker, the director of research, analytics, and communications at GMAC, who authored the study, expressed surprise at the results, emphasizing the overwhelming sentiment of neutrality among international students over the past eight years.
The report highlighted that in terms of issuing student visas to foreign students, both the Trump and Biden administrations were very similar.
In 2016, before the election, there was a sharp increase in the rate of student visa rejections, coupled with a dramatic decrease in application numbers. While the student visa application rates began rising again in 2021, the rejection rate under the Biden administration remained persistently high. Consequently, since 2021, the annual visa issuance in the US has been significantly lower than during the second term of the Obama administration when Biden was Vice President.
Despite the higher rejection rates, the enrollment numbers for international MBA programs saw a significant surge from 2021 to 2023. However, based on the profile of students for the class of 2026 released so far, the growth in the fall of 2024 appears to have stagnated. The proportion of international students has decreased in at least six schools, while class sizes have remained stable or increased.
US education experts noted that before foreign students embark on pursuing a business degree in the US, they are more interested in understanding the American economy and job market, focusing on what type of employment they can secure in the US two years later.
Matt Symonds, co-founder of Fortuna Admissions and a recruitment consultant for European business schools, told Bloomberg, “In terms of salary, opportunities, and the AI-driven economy, the US seems very enticing. Europe is just getting started and evidently lacks the economic dynamism that the US possesses.”