Opinion: If We Want To Put ‘America First,’ Let’s Triple The Number Of International Students In The U.S.

In the debate surrounding H-1B visas, international students are often overlooked. This is surprising given their critical role: a significant portion of the 65,000 annual H-1B visas go to talent educated in the U.S., and 100% of the 20,000 specialized H-1B pool is reserved for those with U.S. graduate degrees. These students are key to filling the STEM-hungry tech sector and essential to sustaining U.S. colleges and universities that attract and educate them.

A FINANCIAL LIFELINE FOR U.S. HIGHER ED & LOCAL ECONOMIES

U.S. universities are grappling with declining domestic enrollment, primarily due to a drop in fertility rates that began in the 1970s. The Philadelphia Federal Reserve predicts worsening enrollment declines, which could lead to the closure of dozens of institutions, especially in areas where colleges serve as economic anchors. States like Arizona, Florida, and Illinois have already experienced enrollment drops of over 20% between 2010 and 2020.

International students help fill empty classroom seats, paying full tuition fees while not benefiting from federal aid. Their enrollment can mean the difference between financial stability and closure for many institutions, with ripple effects on local communities. In 2023-2024 alone, international students contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy and supported nearly 380,000 jobs.

DRIVING U.S. INNOVATION & ECONOMIC GROWTH

International student contributions extend well beyond campus. They play a crucial role in addressing the U.S. labor shortage, which affects industries such as Professional and Business Services (863,000 short), Health Services (700,000 short), and Information (150,000 short). More than half of international students pursue graduate degrees, with over 80% specializing in STEM, business, or health fields—areas critical to the U.S. economy.

Their impact is profound: a 2016 study found that 21 of the 87 U.S. unicorn companies (privately held startups valued at $1 billion or more) were founded by former international students. Similarly, five of the eight leading S&P 500 companies — Tesla, Microsoft, Meta, Broadcom, and Google — have either been co-founded by or are currently led by international student alumni. International student alums don’t just fill jobs; they create them, fueling the U.S. innovation engine.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS & THE ‘AMERICA FIRST’ STRATEGY

An “America First” agenda emphasizes building supply chains and infrastructure systems that rely on American workers and allies. However, current labor shortages make this impossible without skilled immigration. The semiconductor industry illustrates this need: The U.S. has spent billions through the Chips and Science Act to revive this strategic sector. But Congress has failed to pass common-sense reforms to bring more skilled immigrants to the U.S. threatening to put this notable achievement in jeopardy.

Moreover, fostering energy independence — another pillar of “America First” — requires innovation in clean energy technologies, an area heavily influenced by international student alumni in STEM fields. These students also strengthen America’s global leadership by creating diplomatic bridges. A recent analysis found that 90 heads of state studied in the U.S. or other Western nations, exemplifying how education fosters long-term alliances.

A GLOBAL COMPETITION FOR TALENT, AND THE U.S. IS FALLING BEHIND

The U.S. hosts about 883,000 international students annually, representing less than 5% of its higher-ed population. In contrast, Canada — with one-tenth the U.S. population — enrolls nearly the same number of international students, who comprise 29% of their higher-ed population. Australia, the U.K., and Germany also have far higher proportions of international students. Even smaller nations like Denmark, France, and New Zealand attract more significant percentages of foreign talent.

This gap is particularly troubling given the U.S.’s labor shortages and ambitions to lead technologically and militarily. Filling just the current labor shortages in STEM, Business, and healthcare would require nearly two million workers — two to three times the number of international students currently in the U.S. 

Yet, other nations have strategies to attract talent. Canada has long prioritized international students, and France recently announced plans to welcome 30,000 Indian students by 2030. Germany’s explicit internationalization strategy has helped attract nearly 500,000 international students. There’s a global competition for brainpower, but currently the U.S. is the only large, developed economy that’s not even trying.

SCALING INTERNATIONAL ENROLLMENT: A STRATEGIC IMPERATIVE

The U.S. must first adopt a mindset shift to triple the number of international students. International students are not just immigrants but a strategic export of the U.S. higher-ed system. Attracting them requires the same competitive approach as other exports.

Second, the federal government must establish a comprehensive international student strategy. Organizations like NAFSA, the Association of International Educators, and the State Department have proposed actionable frameworks, but they need implementation and government support to succeed.

Finally, visa reform is essential. As incoming President Trump recently suggested, granting green cards to international graduates would enable the U.S. to retain top talent. Other tactical reforms could have a meaningful impact. Streamlining the F1 visa interview process could reduce denial rates (especially in regions like sub-Saharan Africa) and increasing H-1B caps for U.S.-educated graduates are significant steps in the right direction.

Finally, the H-1B cap exemption should be expanded to include organizations critical to the U.S. economic growth and innovation. One could make a case for Alphabet, Nvidia, Tesla, or others to get these exemptions. Or it could be field-based, making it available to AI, quantum computing, or drone technology startups.

THE WORLD’S BEST & BRIGHTEST ARE OURS TO LOSE

Twenty-five years ago, I came to the U.S. as an international student, drawn by a high-quality education and the promise of achieving my dreams through hard work. That promise still resonates globally, but the U.S. must act to remain competitive. Millions of bright minds are eager to invest in a U.S. education and contribute to our economy and innovation engine.

The seats in our classrooms and offices are ready to be filled — if we let them.

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Manu Smadja is the CEO of MPOWER Financing, a company dedicated to empowering international students through access to higher education funding. A former international student from France, Manu experienced firsthand the transformative opportunities of studying in the U.S. and now advocates for expanding access to global talent. 

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