According to data from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the number of international students entering schools in the United States increased last year, correcting the agency’s previous claim of a decrease in numbers.
CNBC reported that a recent analysis by Professor Chris Glass of Boston College found that the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) data released by the DHS had underreported by more than 200,000 international students. This error has now been corrected by the agency, with Glass announcing the change on July 7.
Data from SEVIS, a branch of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), shows that the total number of overseas enrollments in September last year was 1,294,231, whereas the previously reported inaccurate figure was 1,091,182. SEVIS tracks students in universities, public and private high schools, language training programs, flight schools, and vocational schools.
Glass noted that the corrected data shows a 6.5% annual increase.
He told CNBC that the revised data indicates “strong growth.” “At a time when people are closely monitoring the number of international students in the United States, these data are crucial.”
International students have been a continuous focal point of contention between the Trump administration and Harvard University.
In May of this year, the DHS terminated Harvard University’s certification for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. However, US District Judge Allison Burroughs approved Harvard’s preliminary injunction request, temporarily halting the Trump administration’s ban on international students.
Currently, the fate of international admissions at Harvard University and other institutions remains uncertain.
While international undergraduate and graduate students make up slightly less than 6% of the total number of students in higher education in the US, at Harvard University, the proportion of international students is significantly higher.
For the academic year 2024-25, international students will make up 27% of the total admissions at Harvard University, an increase from 22.5% a decade ago.