Do most international graduates of American universities leave the country?
Core argument: Only 41% of international students who graduated from American universities between 2012 and 2020 still lived in the U.S. as of 2021, according to an analysis of the National Survey of College Graduates.
American universities graduate approximately 250,000 international students each year. Yet most of these students do not remain in the United States long-term, in part due to scarce visas available for skilled workers. Between undergraduate and graduate degree programs, only 41% of international students graduating from American universities between 2012 and 2020 still lived in the country as of 2021, according to an analysis of the National Survey of College Graduates. More than four out of every five foreign-born bachelor’s degree recipients ultimately move away after graduation. Only 17% of bachelor’s degree recipients stay. Half of master’s degree recipients and one-quarter of PhD recipients also leave.

