he U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), under Secretary Kristi Noem, has revoked Harvard University’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), effectively barring the institution from enrolling new international students. This decision also mandates that current international students must transfer to other SEVP-certified institutions or risk losing their legal status in the U.S. Approximately 6,800 international students at Harvard are directly affected by this action, representing about 27% of the university’s student body.
The DHS cited concerns over campus safety, allegations of antisemitism, and purported ties to the Chinese Communist Party as reasons for the revocation. Specifically, the department accused Harvard of fostering a “hostile learning environment” for Jewish students and failing to comply with federal policies aimed at combating antisemitism.
In response, Harvard has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the revocation violates its First Amendment rights and constitutes political retaliation for resisting federal influence on academic governance. A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked the directive, citing potential “immediate and irreparable injury” to the university and its students.
The administration has also frozen over $2 billion in federal funding to Harvard and terminated $2.7 million in DHS grants. Furthermore, the Internal Revenue Service is reportedly considering revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status.
Harvard maintains that it is committed to supporting its international community and upholding academic freedom. The university has initiated legal proceedings to challenge the DHS decision and is providing guidance to affected students regarding their rights and options.
This situation underscores the broader tensions between the federal government and academic institutions over issues of governance, free speech, and the role of international students in U.S. higher education.
How much does Harvard earn from international students?
Most international students at Harvard pay the full tuition fee, which is $59,320 for the 2024–25 academic year. Room, board, and other mandatory fees add another $27,606, bringing the total annual cost per student to $86,926.
While Harvard has not publicly disclosed the exact revenue generated from international students, if all 6,800 of them are paying the full amount, the university is estimated to earn over $591 million annually from international students alone.
Overall economic impact of international students in the U.S.
According to the Association of International Educators, during the 2023–24 academic year, international students contributed approximately $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy through tuition, fees, and living expenses.
The states of California, New York, Massachusetts, Texas, and Illinois saw the highest economic contributions from international students.
