In 2026, the number of multicultural students in Korean K-12 schools exceeded 200,000 for the first time β 4% of all students. International university enrollment also hit a record high of 253,000. The numbers have shifted. Has education kept up?
New international student enrollment at U.S. universities fell 17% in fall 2025 β the largest non-pandemic drop in 11 years. As Trump administration visa restrictions push prospective students away, Germany, France, and South Korea are moving to fill the gap.
In 2026, US universities face a double crisis: a "demographic cliff" foretold by declining birth rates, and a rapid drop in international students driven by Trump administration immigration and visa policy. Dozens of colleges have already closed or merged β and many more are at risk.