The Trump administration has introduced a sweeping policy proposal aimed at limiting international undergraduate enrolment at some of the United States’ most prestigious universities. Under the directive, international students would make up no more than 15% of the undergraduate population at select institutions, with no more than 5% of students coming from a single country.

Targeted Universities

According to The Wall Street Journal, nine universities have been specifically identified under the new policy:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Arizona
• Brown University
• Dartmouth College
• University of Southern California
• University of Texas
• University of Virginia
• Vanderbilt University

Officials say these schools were chosen because their leadership indicated a willingness to engage with the initiative, though the White House has not publicly detailed the criteria for selection.

Broader Academic Reforms

The policy is part of a larger “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” which includes additional requirements for universities:

• Making admissions and hiring decisions without considering race or gender.
• Publicly releasing anonymized admissions data by race, national origin, and gender.
• Requiring all prospective students, including international applicants, to take standardized tests such as the SAT.
• Freezing tuition fees for five years and reducing administrative spending.
• Publishing graduate earnings data by program.
• Mandating tuition waivers for students in “hard science” disciplines at universities with endowments exceeding $2 million per undergraduate.

Compliance and Accountability

Universities agreeing to the compact will self-monitor through independent auditors, who will survey faculty, students, and staff anonymously. Results will be shared with the Justice Department, and institutions failing to meet requirements could be required to repay federal funds and private donations.

Immediate and Long-Term Impact

The directive comes amid ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and universities over diversity policies and alleged antisemitism. Some schools, like Columbia and Brown, have reached financial agreements, while others, including Harvard, remain in dispute.

DePaul University has already reported a 30% drop in international student enrolment this fall, prompting a reduction in spending. Observers warn that these changes could significantly affect international student mobility and reshape the broader US higher education landscape.