Why more US students are choosing Europe and Asia for university and how cost and politics are driving the shift – The Times of India
A growing number of US students are turning their backs on traditional American universities in favour of academic institutions across Europe, the UK, and Asia. Motivated by soaring tuition fees, increasing student debt, and domestic political instability, many are opting to study abroad in search of stability and affordability.According to CBS News, applications from US students to foreign universities have climbed sharply in recent years. The International Institute of Education reported that the number of US students studying abroad rose from approximately 50,000 in 2019 to over 90,000 in 2024. This marks a near-doubling within five years, driven by factors both financial and political.Cost pressures and safety concerns influence decisionsFor 19-year-old Genevieve Smith, the decision to apply overseas became clear after reviewing tuition costs and considering the social climate at home. The California native, who studied at Santa Rosa Junior College, initially planned to attend UC Santa Cruz but changed course to save money and avoid high fees.As reported by CBS News, Smith said, “I feel as though going overseas, I can make a bigger difference,” explaining that affordability and safety influenced her decision after the 2024 US election. She is currently preparing applications for Leiden University in The Hague and Utrecht University in the Netherlands, focusing on international law.James Edge, founder of Beyond the States, a consultancy for students seeking education abroad, told CBS News that interest has “skyrocketed” since the 2024 election. From November 2024 to July 2025, website visits jumped from 600,990 to 1,534,929. Strategy calls also surged from 2,215 to 29,373 in the same period.Political climate shifts academic prioritiesOngoing campus protests, visa cancellations, and litigation involving US universities and the Trump administration have added to student concerns. Many families now explore international options as a safeguard against domestic unrest, according to CBS News.The UK has seen a significant rise in US applicants. Data from UCAS, the UK’s centralised admissions service, shows a 14% increase in US student applications this year – the largest jump since data collection began in 2006.Debt fears push students towards global alternativesRising student debt has also played a critical role. CBS News reported that one in six Americans holds federal student loans, with total debt now exceeding $1.6 trillion. In contrast, annual tuition in Europe and the UK averages around $9,000, compared to $11,000 to $30,000 in the US.Jyslodet Davis, a 21-year-old student, told CBS News she was drawn to study abroad to avoid “exorbitant fees for a degree.” Davis enrolled at Anglo-American University in Prague in August 2023, covering costs through a military family grant, scholarships, and personal savings. She later spent a semester at Sophia University in Tokyo, which she said “ruined Europe for me, once I saw what school was like in Japan.”Since moving abroad, Davis has visited 21 countries and made friends from Brazil, Japan, and other nations. She acknowledged difficulties with visas and the distance from home, but said she had “no regrets” about her decision to study overseas, as reported by CBS News.However, she also shared concerns about her career prospects in the US, noting that without American internships and networks, she may face challenges entering the local job market. Nonetheless, Davis said she would still “encourage other prospective students to explore a similar path,” according to CBS News.
