Despite Trump’s Pressure... Number of Chinese Students at Harvard Rose Last Year

International Students Make Up 28% of Total Enrollment, Up 1% From Previous Year
Chinese Students Up 4.5%, Korean Students Also Rise by 8.7%

Despite the anti-immigration stance of the Donald Trump administration, the number of Chinese international students at Harvard University actually increased last year. Chinese students account for the highest proportion among Harvard’s international student body.

Harvard University Campus. AFP Yonhap News

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) and Bloomberg News on January 14 (local time), the number of international students from mainland China enrolled at Harvard for the fall semester last year reached 1,452, a 4.5% increase from the previous year's 1,390. The number of students from Hong Kong also rose from 68 in 2024 to 73 last year.

International students made up about 28% of Harvard’s total student body in the fall semester of last year. This represents a slight increase of less than 1% compared to the previous year. This trend at Harvard contrasts somewhat with the overall situation at universities across the United States.

According to a report by the Institute of International Education (IIE), a U.S. nonprofit organization, the total number of international students at American universities during the same period decreased by 1% compared to 2024. Notably, the number of newly enrolled international students dropped by 17%.

The fact that the number of international students at Harvard increased despite the Trump administration’s intense pressure is particularly noteworthy. By nationality, the number of Chinese students rose by 4.5%, while Korean students increased by 8.7%. In contrast, students from India and Japan declined somewhat compared to the previous year. Students from English-speaking countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom remained at similar levels or saw a slight decrease.

Last year, Harvard University experienced sharp conflict as it rejected the Trump administration’s demands to abolish its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, which the administration argued were necessary to combat antisemitism on campus. The Trump administration pressured Harvard by suspending government subsidies, revoking foreign student enrollment eligibility, and halting visa issuance for international students. However, Harvard fought back through legal action against the government. Although the court ruled in Harvard’s favor, foreign media noted that the university remains in an unstable position as the Trump administration has appealed the decision.