Fall 2024 saw a 17% drop in new international students starting at U.S. universities, with total international enrollment down about 1%, likely tied to stricter visa rules and proposals to limit visa validity to four years. The Institute of International Education notes roughly 1.2 million foreign students were hosted in U.S. universities last academic year, contributing about $550 billion to the economy. Americans studying abroad rose about 6% to around 300,000 in 2023, while Japan set a record with 11,217 students studying there, ranking fifth as a destination.