Fewer Chinese international students at American universities

Summary

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Marketplace Morning Report: "Fewer Chinese International Students at American Universities"

Date: October 14, 2025
Host: Marketplace (David Brancaccio)
Key Segment Reporter: Jennifer Pack, Marketplace China Correspondent

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Overview

This episode delves into the significant decline in the number of Chinese international students at American universities. Drawing on expert commentary from college consultants, university officials, and students, the report explores the reasons behind the 36% drop since 2017. Contributing factors include increased U.S. visa scrutiny, evolving U.S.-China relations, economic challenges, and the search for more affordable alternatives. The program also briefly covers U.S.-China trade tensions and their economic ramifications.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Decline in Chinese Student Enrollment

• Statistical Update:
  • As of Fall 2025, approximately 250,000 Chinese students are studying in the U.S., down 36% from the 2017 peak.
  • China remains the second largest source of international students in the U.S., after India.
  • [00:56] Host: "There are a quarter million students from China studying in the US this fall. That's down 36% from a peak back in 2017."

2. Policy and Political Environment

• Visa Revocations:
  • Increased scrutiny of Chinese graduate students, especially in sensitive fields like robotics and aviation.
  • In August, the U.S. State Department revoked 6,000 student visas for alleged legal violations or supporting terrorism.
  • [01:45] Gu Huini (Founder, Zoomin Academy): "It didn't help, she says, that over the last six months, President Donald Trump has targeted immigrants and international students in China. In August, the State Department said it revoked 6,000 student visas for breaking the law or supporting terrorism."
• Atmosphere of Uncertainty:
  • Consultants and students are anxious about shifting policies and rhetoric.
  • [01:53] Gu Huini: "It's an escalation, and even I was very, very anxious after reading the news, let alone my clients."

3. Chinese Families' Educational Aspirations and Strategy

• Longstanding Value of U.S. Education:
  • American universities are still seen as the gold standard due to a tradition of seeking the best possible education.
  • [02:21] Wan Xiaofeng (College Admissions Consultant): "It just goes back to the thousand year old tradition of Chinese families wanting to give their children the best education possible."
• Application Diversification:
  • More families are hedging by also applying to UK, Hong Kong, and Canadian universities as "Plan B" or "Plan C", not solely relying on U.S. options.
  • [02:48] Correspondent: "Students will apply to US universities, plus colleges in the UK, in Hong Kong, in Canada, just to have a plan B or Plan C in case the US falls out."

4. Economic Considerations

• Shifting Cost Calculus:
  • With a sluggish Chinese economy and high U.S. inflation, American education is less affordable.
  • Chinese parents are more selective, targeting only top 20 U.S. schools; otherwise, they opt for cheaper alternatives.
  • [03:27] Gu Huini: "Chinese parents are more discerning... They want their child to get into the top 20 universities in the US. Otherwise they would choose a college in the UK or Hong Kong where tuitions are far cheaper than in the US."

5. U.S. Degrees in the Chinese Job Market

• Continued Prestige:
  • An American diploma remains a significant advantage for job seekers at major Chinese firms.
  • [03:08] Phoebe Yeoh (US University Outreach, Shanghai): "A lot of big domestic Chinese companies tell me they prefer working with graduates from top US Colleges because they produce quality employees."
• Growing Uncertainty:
  • Fluctuating U.S. policy and rhetoric create unpredictability for families making education investments.
  • [03:47] Reporter: "Trump has said he still welcomes Chinese students to study in America, but the constant flip flop doesn't make it easy on Chinese families."

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• [01:53] Gu Huini: "It's an escalation, and even I was very, very anxious after reading the news, let alone my clients."
• [02:21] Wan Xiaofeng: "It just goes back to the thousand year old tradition of Chinese families wanting to give their children the best education possible."
• [03:08] Phoebe Yeoh: "A lot of big domestic Chinese companies tell me they prefer working with graduates from top US Colleges because they produce quality employees."
• [03:27] Gu Huini: "They want their child to get into the top 20 universities in the US otherwise they would choose a college in the UK or Hong Kong where tuitions are far cheaper than in the US."
• [03:47] Reporter (Jennifer Pack): "Trump has said he still welcomes Chinese students to study in America, but the constant flip flop doesn't make it easy on Chinese families."

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Content | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:56 | Statistic: 250,000 Chinese students enrolled in the U.S., down 36% since 2017. | | 01:27 | Perspective from Shanghai-based consultant Gu Huini on the slowdown and anxiety. | | 01:45 | Visa revocations and their impact on students and clients. | | 02:21 | Wan Xiaofeng on the tradition of educational aspiration among Chinese families. | | 02:48 | Discussion of applying to universities in other countries as backup plans. | | 02:57 | Phoebe Yeoh on the value of a U.S. degree in China's job market. | | 03:27 | Gu Huini on how cost and university rank are shaping parental decisions. | | 03:47 | Reporter on the mixed signals from U.S. leadership and its effect on families' choices. |

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Tone & Concluding Insights

The overall tone is informative but laced with anxiety and disappointment among families, consultants, and university representatives. The reporting frames these trends in the context of global economic and political shifts, underlining the ripple effects of U.S.-China relations on educational choices.

American institutions still hold enormous prestige, but the combined pressures of policy uncertainty, affordability, and more competitive options are pushing many Chinese families to reconsider earlier assumptions. The enduring desire for the "best education" is now balanced with practical concerns and the need for secure alternatives.

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For listeners interested in the intersection of education, economics, and international relations, this segment offers a swift yet nuanced update on the evolving landscape for Chinese students in American academia.

Transcript

[Host]

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[Reporter]

To US Colleges is complex. That's why many Chinese families hire consulting firms like Zoomin Academy. Its founder and Columbia alum Gu Huini says business has been slower this year. I have laid off 30% of my staff in the Shanghai office. It didn't help, she says, that over the last six months, President Donald Trump has targeted immigrants in international students in China. In August, the State Department said it revoked 6,000 student visas for breaking the law or supporting terrorism. It's an escalation and even I was very, very anxious after reading the news, let alone my clients. But for Chinese students studying abroad, says college admissions consultant Wan Xiaofeng, their top choice remains the US it just goes.

[Correspondent]

Back to the thousand year old tradition of Chinese families wanting to give their children the best education possible.

[Reporter]

And of the best 100 universities in the world, most are in the U.S. he says. Once Chinese families decide on an American education, Wan Xiaofeng says, they spend lots of money and years to prepare so it's hard to suddenly pivot the difference now. So students will apply to US universities.

[Correspondent]

Plus colleges in the uk, in Hong.

[Host]

Kong, in Canada, just to have a.

[Correspondent]

Plan B or Plan C in case the US falls out.

[Reporter]

And an American degree still gives graduates a leg up in the Chinese job market, says Phoebe Yeoh. She works for a US university's outreach office in Shanghai. We're not naming the school because she's not authorized to speak to the media. A lot of big domestic Chinese companies tell me they prefer working with graduates from top US Colleges because they produce quality employees. But with China's sluggish economy and high inflation in the U.S. an American education is now a less affordable luxury. Chinese parents are more discerning, says Ku Huini. They want their child to get into the top 20 universities in the US otherwise they would choose a college in the UK or Hong Kong where tuitions are far cheaper than in the US Trump has said he still welcomes Chinese students to study in America, but the constant flip flop doesn't make it easy on Chinese families. In Shanghai, I'm Jennifer Paak for Marketplace.

[Host]

Yesterday, President Trump said it'll all work out with China. Trade and the stock market rebounded from the Friday mess. Today China sanctioned some U.S. shipping interests and Treasury Secretary Scott Besant slammed China saying its economy is a mess and that Beijing quote wants to pull everyone else down with it. Which leads us to The Dow down 524 points 1.1%. Now the S&P is down 1.3%. The Nasdaq is down a vivid 2% in early trading.

[Reporter]

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[Host]

Go to wix.com now is your time to get into a new Dr. Horton home by taking advantage of its national red tag sales event going on right now through October 19th. Stop by any of its participating communities and find select red tag homes at incredible pricing. So whether you're buying your first home or looking for an upgrade, you don't want to miss the red tag sales event going on right now. Discover the Dr. Horton Difference at Dr. Dr. Horton, America's Builder and Equal Housing Opportunity Builder. A new Goldman Sachs analysis finds that US Consumers are paying More than half the burden of tariffs. But then there's the other half. Today the case study Switzerland facing 39% tariffs. Here's the BBC's Imogen folks.

[Correspondent]

The Swiss economy, regularly ranked as the most competitive in the world, is slowing down. 17% of Swiss exports are sold to the US a significant percentage that Switzerland can't afford to lose overnight. Jan Attislander, director of international trade for the Swiss Business Federation Economy Suisse, says the US Gains more from Switzerland than quality cheese and chocolate. And he's still at a loss to understand President Trump's strategy.

[Reporter]

In the era of research and development, we are the biggest foreign investor in the United States. We are, we employ hundred thousands of U.S. citizens in the United States and we pay the best salaries.

[Correspondent]

So which Swiss products are most affected by the 39%?

[Host]

First of all, is pharma.

[Reporter]

Second, not surprisingly, is watches. Then actually comes MedTech.

[Correspondent]

Adrian Hun is managing director of Swiss Medtech, the trade body representing Switzerland's medical technology industry.

[Reporter]

We are doing a lot of life saving and life improving devices, knee implants, pacemakers, dental implant surgical instruments and much more.

[Correspondent]

Gilles Robert is chief executive officer of MPS Micro Precision Systems. From aortic valve replacements to the tiniest of surgical drills used in hip or knee replacements, it produces things a wealthy country with an aging and increasingly overweight population like the US really needs.

[Reporter]

They had the best price before the new tariffs came into effect. So that means we don't have this leeway of giving a discount to our customers because they are already, the margins are already as low as they can be.

[Host]

What people don't understand is the country.

[Correspondent]

Eats the tariff, the company eats the tariff. President Trump has promised US Citizens that the countries he is punishing with tariffs will swallow the cost of them. Adrian hun of Swiss MedTech agrees with Gilles Robert that this will be bad news for US Patients and US Taxpayers.

[Reporter]

Medical device will get more expensive for US Patients. Switzerland's Tech Sector association has described the levies as a horror scenario that threatens jobs across the country's export driven economy.

[Correspondent]

So pain literally for US Patience because of these tariffs, but also pain for Switzerland. Swiss negotiators have ruled out retaliatory measures, concluding that Switzerland's David is just too small to take on America's Goliath.

[Host]

You're listening to the Marketplace Morning report from APM American Public Media.

[Correspondent]

I'm Kimberly Adams, host of Make Me.

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