The Impact of Trump's Presidency on US Higher Education

American universities are facing a level of federal pressure that hasn't been seen in decades. In Episode 20 of Higher Ed Chats, host Scott Miller sits down with Stephanie Worden, Assistant Director of International Enrollment at the University of Denver, to examine what Trump's second term actually means for higher education — for domestic enrollment, international student recruitment, and the institutions caught in the middle of a shifting political climate.

The episode opens with a question most enrollment leaders are quietly asking: how much of what's happening now is new, and how much is a continuation of a longer erosion? Stephanie frames the second term not as an abrupt departure but as the acceleration of a trajectory that started in 2017, with DeVos-era for-profit expansion, Title IX rollbacks, and the dismantling of DEI infrastructure. The affirmative action ruling has already had measurable consequences: MIT reported a 15% drop in Black and Hispanic enrollments this year. "I predict we'll continue to see increasing drops in subsequent enrollment terms as reports come out and the policies have a longer time to feed into the public space," Stephanie says.

The conversation shifts to international recruitment, where the exposure is broad and getting harder to model. Visa instability is the most visible issue, but it isn't the only one. OPT and H-1B uncertainty is driving away STEM graduates from India and China, the two largest source markets for US institutions. Tariff-driven currency devaluation could create a mid-enrollment retention crisis that universities haven't had to plan for before. A Keystone survey of 6,000 prospective students found that 20% said the Trump presidency makes them less likely to consider studying in the US. As Stephanie puts it: "The perception that America's welcoming and safe and a land of opportunity built by immigrants is degrading at home and abroad."

There's also a longer-range concern underneath the policy detail: the eight-year narrative that higher education is a bad investment, stoked at the federal level, is doing damage that policy changes alone won't quickly reverse. Accreditation, research funding, and the proposed endowment tax hike from 1.4% to 35% for large institutions all add pressure on the system's structural foundations.

The episode doesn't end on a purely pessimistic note. American universities still carry genuine competitive advantages: global research prestige, academic depth, and a growing number of institutions publicly recommitting to academic freedom as a differentiator. Whether those strengths hold depends on whether institutions get ahead of the narrative, or wait to respond to it.

If you're working in international enrollment, recruitment communications, or higher education strategy, this conversation covers the ground worth understanding heading into the next admissions cycle.

Who’s in the episode?

Stephanie Worden is the Assistant Dean for Enrollment, Marketing and Communications at the University of Denver. With her extensive experience in this field, Stephanie will provide us with insights into how post-election policies could shape the future of colleges and universities in the U.S. and worldwide.

Scott Miller is the host of Keystone Higher Ed Chats and the Executive Director of Keystone's international division, bringing over 11 years of EdTech experience to conversations about global education.

After graduating from DePauw University, living and working in different cultures showed him that stepping outside your comfort zone doesn't just broaden your horizons; it reshapes them entirely. That belief in the transformative power of international experiences brought Scott to Keystone in 2010, where he's spent over a decade (and counting) helping higher education institutions reach students worldwide.

On Keystone Higher Ed Chats, Scott speaks with thought-leaders in the industry about what he's most passionate about: how education changes lives, how cultural experiences broaden perspectives at any age, and how Keystone's mission—connecting students with their ideal higher education institution—makes those life-changing moments possible.

Timestamps & Takeaways

Timestamps

Takeaways

Address visa stability and personal safety directly in your recruitment communications
Prospective international students aren't just asking about programs and rankings. As Stephanie Worden noted, students are asking: "Will I be deported? If I'm on a four-year PhD, will I be safe?" That concern is real and growing. Recruitment messaging that doesn't address it directly is leaving a credibility gap. Institutions should give international recruiters clear, factual talking points on F-1 status protections, institutional support services, and what the university will do if a student faces an immigration issue.

Model currency scenarios before they become a retention crisis
Tariff-driven currency devaluation doesn't just affect prospective students considering the US, it hits students already enrolled. Worden was direct: any trade disruption that devalues the currencies of major sending countries creates mid-enrollment financial hardship. Institutions with significant international cohorts from countries like India, China, or Brazil should run affordability scenarios now and identify what emergency support or payment flexibility they could offer if a currency shock hits.

20% of prospective students see the Trump administration as a deterrent — don't underestimate the perception gap
A Keystone survey of 6,000 prospective students found that 1 in 5 said Trump's presidency makes them less likely to study in the US. That's a market signal, not just a political opinion. International enrollment managers should factor this into pipeline forecasts and consider whether messaging about campus environment, academic freedom, and student community can close some of that gap for students who are on the fence.

Federal research funding cuts affect your scholarship budget, not just your labs
Cuts to federal research funding at R1 universities reduce grant income that many institutions rely on to fund graduate scholarships. Stephanie Worden highlighted this connection explicitly. Graduate enrollment teams, especially those recruiting international STEM students, should audit how exposed their scholarship pool is to federal grants, and start building a case for alternative funding before a cut forces the conversation.

Affirmative action rulings are compounding: plan for continued domestic enrollment shifts
MIT reported a 15% drop in Black and Hispanic enrollments following the affirmative action ruling, and Worden predicted further drops as the policy works its way through the system. This isn't a one-cycle adjustment. Institutions that haven't revisited their domestic outreach strategy for underrepresented communities, or built alternative pathways to diverse cohorts, are likely to see the gap widen through subsequent enrollment cycles.

Frame academic freedom as a competitive differentiator, not just a value statement
Despite the policy pressures, American universities retain serious structural advantages: global research prestige, faculty quality, and a commitment to academic freedom that many peer countries can't match. Worden's view is that institutions which actively defend and communicate their academic freedom stance have a genuine recruiting argument. That message should show up in institution profiles, international partner briefings, and any content targeting graduate-level students choosing between the US and competitor destinations like Canada, the UK, or Germany.

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The Impact of Trump's Presidency on US Higher Education

Who’s in the episode?

Stephanie Worden

Scott Miller

Timestamps & Takeaways

Timestamps

Takeaways

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