International Applications to UC Schools Drop Sharply

A new study shows international students applied to the University of California last year in far fewer numbers than they did over the 12 previous years, and the decline coincides with the election of President Trump.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports the dip follows more than a decade in which the number of international applications rose by an average of 21 percent a year, according to the study by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions.

UC's application deadline for fall 2017 admissions was Nov. 30 and Trump was elected Nov. 8.

Applications from Mexico plunged by 30 percent. And countries with large populations of Muslims sent in 10 percent fewer applications.

The newspaper reports that the last time foreign undergraduates shied away from UC, the United States had just led a multinational invasion of Iraq. The war coincided with a plunge in international interest in UC campuses and other American universities in 2004 and 2005. Similar enrollment decreases were not seen even in the wake of post-9/11 security crackdowns.

This new survey of 261 colleges and universities shows that nearly 40 percent of those schools reported a drop in international applications of at least 2 percent, with the greatest decrease from countries in the Middle East.

"The perception is that this administration wants to keep these students out," said Melanie Gottlieb, the association's deputy director.

Admissions officers reported that would-be applicants expressed concerns about "negative rhetoric around the Muslim faith, and immigration changes — even before the (aborted) travel ban" from Muslim-majority countries, Gottlieb said.

The U.S. Education Department did not immediately respond to email and phone messages left Monday seeking comment.

While some campuses saw drops in international applications, there were increases at seven UC campuses.

UC Davis, for example, saw a 3 percent increase for next fall, although that compared with 21 percent for last fall.

"The UC brand remains very strong" among international students, said Stephen Handel, the university's associate vice president for undergraduate admissions, who said he wasn't sure why international applications dipped this year.

"It's really hard to tell at this point," he said. "Of course, the national dialogue (about immigration) is out there. Students around the world read the newspaper. But there are other things in play."

He said price might also be a factor. UC recently increased the fee out-of-state residents pay by 5 percent, raising annual tuition to $41,964 beginning this summer.