Class dismissed: The effect of international student exclusion on the US STEM workforce and economic growth

Restrictive US government policies since 2025 have reduced international student enrollment in US universities and made it harder for foreign graduates to work in the United States. This shift, if sustained, would hurt the US economy, slowing innovation and GDP growth, because foreign students are a key source of US STEM workforce talent. The authors recommend reforming US policies on student visas, work authorization, and green card processing to avert these losses.