Ask: We urge support for increased funding of international education programs as part of FY2025 appropriations. Specifically, we request Congress allocate $808.6 million for the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and $91 million for the Education Department’s Title VI and Fulbright-Hays programs.
Federal funding for U.S. international education and exchange programs is critical. The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted global activity at U.S. colleges and universities. However, as travel restrictions lifted and in-person learning resumed, new international student enrollment has rebounded, growing 14 percent in Fall 2022, largely driven by post-pandemic demand. Meanwhile, study abroad participation also bounced back, with nearly 189,000 U.S. students abroad in the 2021-2022 academic year, up from a low of 14,459 students at the height of the pandemic.
While these numbers are higher, they remain below pre-pandemic peak levels. Meaningful funding increases from Congress are needed to help fully restore and sustain international education at U.S. colleges and universities and ensure they can recruit talented students from around the world and produce U.S. college graduates with the global skills necessary for future workforce success. We request the following amounts for FY2025:
- U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA): $808.6 million
For FY 2025, we urge Congress to provide $808.6 million in overall funding for the U.S. State Department’s educational and cultural exchange programs at ECA, such as the Fulbright and Gilman scholarship programs. This amount constitutes an 8.8% percent increase over the FY2024 enacted level. These programs are essential in fostering global understanding that is critical to our nation's strength and security. Additional ECA programs that would benefit from increased funding include:- Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students (IDEAS) Grant Program: We urge Congress to provide $5 million in funding for IDEAS in FY 2025. Increasing institutional capacity for study abroad programming is essential if we are to grow and diversify the number of U.S. college students who complete a study abroad program prior to graduation. Funding opportunities provided by institutional grant programs like IDEAS are key to achieving this objective.
- EducationUSA: The network consists of over 430 international student advising centers in more than 175 countries and territories that promotes the value of U.S. higher education to students around the world. We urge Congress to provide $14.3 million in funding for the network to further grow and diversify international student enrollment at U.S. colleges and universities.
U.S. Education Department’s Title VI and Fulbright-Hays programs: $91 million. For FY2025, we urge Congress to provide $91 million in funding for the Department of Education’s Title VI and Fulbright-Hays programs. This amount constitutes a 6 percent increase over the FY2024 enacted level for these programs. Success in navigating increasingly complex global challenges requires that many more Americans across the country understand and engage with diverse cultures at home and abroad. Specifically, we request:
- For Title VI programs: $79.9 million
Higher Education Act Title VI programs support foreign language, area, and international studies programs at U.S. colleges and universities, ensuring U.S. college students graduate with global expertise, especially in less commonly taught foreign languages and critical world areas. - For Fulbright-Hays programs: $11 million
Authorized under Section 102(b)(6) of the Fulbright-Hays Act, these programs these programs send current and prospective educators (K-12 and higher education) overseas to strengthen foreign language and area studies expertise.
NAFSA Contact:
Jill Allen Murray, Deputy Executive Director, Public Policy
[email protected]- For Title VI programs: $79.9 million