International Candidate Interest in U.S. Business Schools Stays Below Pre-2016 Election Levels

Overview

Monthly surveys of non-U.S. citizen mba.com registrants show that international candidate preference for the U.S. as their study destination has stayed below the previous five-year average each month since the election, and has most recently declined for three consecutive months between September and November 2017. The primary drivers of the recent downturn are candidate concerns around their ability to obtain a job in the U.S. post-graduation and safety and security fears.

Quick Facts

• International candidate preference for the U.S. as their study destination declined from 44 percent in November 2016 32 percent in February 2017. It steadily recovered through the summer (44% in August), and has since declined for three consecutive months (39% in November). 
• Among the 1,992 non-U.S. citizen candidates surveyed between September and November 2017, 23 percent previously considered applying to a U.S. program but do not currently plan to apply.