A recent survey by the Pew Research Center shows that most Americans view international students in a positive light, though many also support certain limits tied to nationality or political speech. In the 2023-24 school year, U.S. colleges hosted more than 1.1 million international students, setting a record high.
When asked, about 79% of U.S. adults said it is good for universities to accept international students. This sentiment crosses party lines, with strong support from both Democrats and Republicans. However, there are significant differences when it comes to restricting students from specific countries. Half of those surveyed favor limiting students from China; somewhat fewer support limits on students from India, Nigeria, and South Korea.
Another notable finding: around 42% of Americans believe the U.S. should have the power to revoke visas of international students who are critical of U.S. foreign policy. Most people (about 56%) oppose such a policy. Support for visa revocations splits sharply along partisan and educational lines.
On knowledge of international student populations, the survey found many Americans overestimate their numbers. Although fewer than one in ten U.S. college students are international, only a small fraction correctly identified this size when asked.
Overall, while there is broad acceptance of international students and recognition of their contributions, many Americans also endorse restrictions under certain conditions—especially tied to country of origin or speech about foreign policy.
