The US-China Podcast Why Chinese students aren't coming to study in the U.S.
Jan 23, 2026
Yingyi Ma, professor of sociology at Syracuse University and Brookings non-resident fellow, studies Chinese education and international students. She explores why far fewer Chinese students now choose U.S. study. Short takes cover safety perceptions, visa and policy shifts, economic and research impacts, and how changing preferences reshape academic exchange.
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Strategic Relevance Drives Interest
- China’s geopolitical rise creates strong incentives for Americans to learn Chinese language and China studies.
- Negative public attitudes and shrinking language programs hinder U.S. interest and infrastructure for China education.
Study Abroad To China Has Plunged
- American study-abroad to China collapsed to about 20% of its pre-peak level and hasn’t recovered.
- Geopolitical risk perceptions, travel advisories, and digital restrictions create a ‘perfect storm’ deterring U.S. students.
China’s Demand For U.S. Degrees Falls
- Chinese enrollment in the U.S. is down over 25% since 2019 while India has rebounded and surpassed China overall.
- Rising Chinese universities, weaker returns to U.S. credentials, and high costs reduce Chinese demand for U.S. degrees.