The Doors to American Higher Education Are Closing
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TL;DR
- U.S. higher education is becoming less accessible to talented students from less privileged backgrounds due to rising barriers.
- Proclamation 10998 suspends or limits entry and visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries, including Iran.
- Iranian students must travel abroad for visa processing, incurring additional costs and time away from work.
- Paniz Halvachi, an Iranian computer engineering student, was admitted to MIT but faced a 13-month visa delay and lost her place.
- The author is awaiting French naturalization, a process that has taken two years, as a potential way to bypass U.S. restrictions.
- U.S. universities have inconsistent policies regarding deferrals for students facing visa issues.
- The U.S. higher education system, once a draw for ambitious international students due to funding opportunities, is at risk of losing its global standing.
- International students contributed $42.9 billion to the U.S. economy in the 2024-25 academic year.
- International applications to doctoral programs at major U.S. research universities fell by about one-fifth.
- Universities can improve processes by providing clearer answers regarding deferrals, funding preservation, and reapplication requirements for students affected by government restrictions.