America Wins When International Students Choose the US – But What Happens if They Go Elsewhere?
On November 5, House congressional staff and policy experts gathered for a bipartisan discussion on the economic, innovation, and security benefits international students bring to the United States — and what’s at stake if U.S. policies fail to keep pace with global competition.
Featured experts included Stuart Anderson, Executive Director, National Foundation for American Policy and Michael Clemens, Professor of Economics, George Mason University, and Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics. Both highlighted new data showing broad public support for international students and underscored that welcoming global talent is not a partisan issue — it’s a strategic investment in America’s future prosperity.
The briefing kicked off with remarks from Congress’s only PhD Physicist, Representative Bill Foster (IL-11), and concluded with senior staff from the co-hosting offices of Representatives Maria Salazar (R-FL-27), Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), and Mike Lawler (R-NY-17). Staff detailed how two bills would help the U.S. to maintain its #1 position as the leading destination for the world’s best and brightest: H.R. 2627 (the Keep STEM Talent Act) and the Unleashing America’s Prosperity and Competitiveness Provisions of the Dignity Act (H.R. 4393).
Sponsored by the Executive Committee of the U.S. for Success Coalition and co-hosted by leading bipartisan congressional champions of policies that help the U.S. to maintain our #1 position as the global leader in education, the briefing concluded with a call-to-action for Congress to support the Keep STEM Talent Act and the Unleashing American Prosperity and Competitiveness provisions of the Dignity Act.
Key Takeaways:
International students are a major driver of U.S. innovation and growth. Research shows that for every three international students studying in the U.S., one new job is created for Americans. These students contribute over $40 billion annually to the U.S. economy, spread across congressional districts in every U.S. state, supporting more than 350,000 U.S. jobs across education, technology, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors. Most importantly, these students bring local economic benefits. View how much international students contribute to your local congressional district here. (11/10/25 Note: these reports are currently being updated with the latest data for International Education Week (Nov. 17-21) and will be online again soon).
International students strengthen America’s global competitiveness. International graduates fuel critical fields like AI, engineering, and biotech, helping maintain the U.S. edge in national security and scientific research.
Nearly half of U.S. startups valued at $1 billion or more have at least one immigrant founder, many of whom first came here as international students.
Immigrants or their children founded 46% of the largest 500 firms in America.
International students invest in America — not the other way around. International students receive no federal financial aid, yet their tuition helps lower costs and expand opportunities for domestic students at universities nationwide. Every international student who studies in the U.S. creates two spots for American students.
The global race for talent is tightening. The U.S. is currently the #1 destination for the world’s best and brightest, competitors like China and the European Union have modernized their visa systems to attract and retain skilled graduates. Without similar updates, experts warned, the U.S. risks losing top talent to competitors.
The best available economic research implies that, within ten years, the estimated cost of losing one-third of international students in STEM fields from U.S. universities would lead to long-tern GDP losses of $240 to $481 billion each year.
Policy modernization is essential. Speakers emphasized the importance of maintaining experiential learning programs like Optional Practical Training (OPT) and in advancing reforms like those included in the Dignity Act and the Keep STEM Talent Act, which would help retain international graduates and strengthen America’s long-term economic and security interests.
Three Facts You Should Know:
The U.S. is currently the #1 destination for the world’s most talented international students, but competition for global talent is increasing, and we must make it a national priority to attract and retain them if we’re to maintain our innovative edge.
For every additional international undergraduate student enrolled a public university, two more in-state first-year students enroll as well. International students don’t receive any federal financial aid and they pay out-of-state tuition, thus lowering the costs for American students. And it’s also true that we have a shortage of Americans choosing to study in the STEM fields, so international students who enroll in these programs keep them sustainable for Americans who want to study in them.
For every three international students who study in the U.S., one new American job is created. When international students help local economies with their spending on food, groceries, retail, transportation, rent and more.
Call-to-Action - What You Can Do:
Cosponsor the Dignity Act of 2025 (H.R. 4393), supporting the provisions that “Unleash American Prosperity and Competitiveness.” Learn more from Rep. Salazar and Rep. Escobar.
Cosponsor the Keep STEM Talent Act of 2025 (H.R. 2627), supporting provisions that help keep STEM graduates in America. Learn more from Rep. Foster and Rep. Lawler.
What Americans and Our Leaders Think:
There is widespread bipartisan agreement on the importance of attracting and retaining students from around the world. Most Americans (79%) think it’s good for U.S. colleges and universities to accept international students. That includes majorities of both Republicans and Democrats, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in September 2025.
Representative Veronica Escobar on the Dignity Act:
“Immigrants help sustain our economy and our communities – not just in El Paso, but across the Country. The Dignity Act reforms our outdated immigration system to ensure our economy remains competitive and the U.S. remains the #1 destination for talented students from all parts of the world.”
Representative Maria Salazar on the Dignity Act:
"When we educate people in our universities and send them home to compete with us, America loses. We need to change U.S. policy to make it easier to keep these graduates here in America. The Dignity Act's provisions on unleashing American prosperity and competitiveness are aimed at attracting and retaining talented individuals to contribute to the American economy and advance innovation."
Rep. Bill Foster on the Keep STEM Talent Act:
“We must expand America's STEM workforce to compete in the global economy,” said Congressman Bill Foster. “Our country gives international STEM students a world-class education, only to turn them away when they want to stay in the United States after graduation and contribute their skills to our economy. Allowing these graduates to stay would help put our country on the cutting edge of scientific research and technological development and create good-paying American jobs along the way. I'm proud to lead this bipartisan effort to build up our STEM workforce.”
Rep. Mike Lawler on the Keep STEM Talent Act:
“I’m proud to reintroduce the bipartisan Keep STEM Talent Act of 2025. Our universities attract some of the brightest minds from around the world, yet too often, these students leave the United States after graduation. This bill will incentivize international STEM graduates to stay and contribute to our economy, ensuring America continues to lead the world in science and technological innovation,” said Congressman Mike Lawler.
Resources You Can Use:
Brain Freeze: How International Student Exclusion Will Shape the STEM Workforce and Economic Growth in the United States, commissioned by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and co-authored by Michael Clemens, Jeremy Neufeld, and Amy Nice
Infographic, Sharpening Our Edge: Enhancing U.S. Competitiveness by Attracting and Retaining Global Talent, by NAFSA, Executive Committee Member of the U.S. for Success Coalition
International Student Economic Value Tool by NAFSA: Association of International Educators and JB International
Fall 2025 International Student Enrollment Outlook and Economic Impact by NAFSA and JB International
Immigrants and Nobel Prizes by National Foundation for American Policy
Most Billion Dollar Start-Ups in the U.S. Founded by Immigrants, Forbes by Stuart Anderson highlighting National Foundation for American Policy’s research
The Dignity Act of 2025, supporting the provisions that “Unleash American Prosperity and Competitiveness.” Learn more from Rep. Salazar and Rep. Escobar.
The Keep STEM Talent Act of 2025, supporting provisions that help keep STEM graduates in America. Learn more from Rep. Foster and Rep. Lawler.
New American Fortune 500 in 2024: The Largest American Companies and Their Immigrant Roots, Special Report by the American Immigration Council
About the U.S. for Success Coalition:
The U.S. for Success Coalition is a multi-sector coalition of more than 50 leading organizations uniting to advance smart federal policies to attract and retain international students—thus fueling America’s innovation, workforce, and global edge. When international students choose the U.S. to study, live, and work - we all win.
