Survey assesses international students’ perceptions of the US under President Trump

Soon after US President Trump’s election, and while the president was in the midst of signing several executive orders in the first weeks of his new term, IDP Education surveyed just over 1,000 international students to gauge their reaction to the US as a study destination.

The survey was active from 25 January to 12 February 2025. It received responses from students in 43 countries, with the largest sample segments from India, China, and Bangladesh.

More than half (52%) of students surveyed said that their impression of the US had improved since the election, but this average belies significant variation in perceptions. For example, only 27% of Chinese said they felt more positively towards the US than before the election. By contrast, almost two-thirds (64%) of Bangladeshi students and 48% of Indian students were more impressed with the US as a study destination following the 2024 election.

Overall, 26% of the survey sample said that their view of the US had become more negative since President Trump came into power.

What is driving students’ interest in the US?

Many international students remain convinced of the US’s position as an education powerhouse. IDP reports that “the quality of education remains the most significant factor attracting international students to the US, followed closely by the availability of scholarships and financial aid.”

Simon Emmett, chief partner officer at IDP Education, also points out that the US is benefitting from weakened enthusiasm for other top study destinations given their restrictive immigration settings:

“In recent IDP Education research we have seen evidence that the US is benefiting from evolving policy environments in other leading markets like the UK and Australia. As other markets become more unpredictable, international students are more willing to invest in the high quality and reputable education available in the US. Given this, there’s an opportunity for the US international education community to come together and highlight the wealth of opportunities available to students in the market.”

Quality of education aside, the areas in which international students were least likely to consider the US attractive were pathways to permanent residency, post-graduation work visas, and diversity of the student population.

Would the responses be the same today?

From the first day of his presidency to 20 February 2025, President Trump signed 70 executive orders, the most in that timeframe of any president in 40 years. This increased to 128 by 12 March 2025, 10 of which are immigration-related, and one of which concerns a comprehensive review of all visa programmes, including those covering international students. The following screenshot is from CNN, and it breaks down the categories of executive orders up to 12 March 2025.

Since the survey, President Trump’s tariff threats and tariff applications have intensified. So far, Canada, Mexico, and China have borne the brunt of the trade measures, but the president has not ruled out applying tariffs affecting other countries – including India and European countries.

Should the US issue any kind of travel ban for students and visitors, the US study abroad brand would decline quickly, according to survey responses. Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they would change their view that the US is welcoming to international students. About a quarter of Chinese and Pakistani students (27% and 23%, respectively) said they would no longer consider studying in the US if a travel ban were imposed.

Just after the IDP survey closed, the Trump administration imposed a funding freeze on major organisations responsible for exchange and scholarship programmes for both international and American students.

For additional background, please see:

• “US funding freeze affecting both American and international exchange students and major US scholarship funders”
• "US: International education sector braces as a second Trump presidency takes shape"