International education remains one of the most dynamic, high-impact global systems of the modern era - a powerful force that delivers shared prosperity for learners, host nations, sending countries, and employers alike. In the United States, this force has long served as a cornerstone of economic strength, innovation, and global leadership.
Yet in 2025, America’s leadership in attracting global talent is no longer guaranteed. While international student demand for US education remains strong, the reality is that US policy choices, particularly around visa access and post-study work opportunities, now represent the most significant constraint to realizing this potential. Without urgent attention and reform, these bottlenecks risk undermining the United States’ competitiveness in an increasingly aggressive global race for talent.
This year’s report highlights this disconnect. Demand for a US education continues to rise, and yet, over one-quarter of a million potential students were denied entry in 2023 due to visa rejections. According to Shorelight’s research, students from key markets such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Bangladesh face rejection rates as high as 80%, not for lack of merit, but due to limited capacity and inconsistent adjudication.
This is not merely an administrative issue. It is a strategic one.
The opportunity cost of inaction is enormous. The United States already lags behind peer study destinations, Canada, the UK, and Australia, in establishing coordinated national strategies to attract and support international students.
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