IU senior Andrea Vega packed her bags freshman year to move to Indianapolis, and go to IU. Her move, different from most students, involved crossing a border into a new country.

Vega grew up in Mexico City, and studied abroad in Asia throughout high school.  She says she knew going to college abroad would help her academically, and her family decided to move to Indianapolis.

Now, Vega is becoming a US citizen.

Indiana University takes pride in its diverse campus. Students from all over the nation and the world come to study in Bloomington Indiana. Yet, the international student enrollment rate dropped.

“I think a lot of people want to attribute it to the political climate,” says Vega. “It didn’t just start declining when Trump came into office, it started declining way before that.”

Vega does believe travel bans and current immigration policies play a roll in the decline of international student enrollment, however says it’s important to know other countries have restrictions that make it difficult for international students to study abroad.

“Saudi Arabia and Brazil’s government have been tightening down on scholarships for students to study abroad,” she says.

The international student enrollment is down 13 percent at Indiana University. Nationwide, it’s down four percent from just last year. In 2017 almost 9,000 international students were at IU in total. One year later, that number dropped by 1,000 students.

For international freshmen, the past four years of enrollment decreased by 300 students.

Other international students believe the decrease is because there are other countries with equally as good educational programs. IU freshman Ging Ging Wang of China is one of those students who voiced her opinion in terms of IU’s Kelley’s  School of Business reputation.

“People know Kelley in America, but no one knows Kelley in China,” says Wang. “I mean some know about it, but most don’t.”

Vega agrees. She believes Canada and Australia have competitive educational programs that also draw international students away from the US.

The Office of International Services on E 7th Street aims to make all students, from every background, feel that they belong. The office is decorated with supportive signs, welcoming students to their new home at IU.

Indiana ranks 55th in US universities with the largest number of international students.