By Autumn Walden, Editor, AACRAO Connect, Content Strategy Manager, AACRAO
By now, you’re probably familiar with the recent decline in international enrollment at U.S. colleges and universities, which dropped 17% in fall 2025. As institutions continue navigating evolving student mobility patterns, shifting recruitment priorities, and renewed global engagement, timely data remains one of the most valuable tools in international education.
The Institute of International Education is encouraging U.S. colleges and universities to participate in the Spring 2026 Snapshot on International Educational Exchange Survey before the survey closes on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
The survey, administered by IIE, gathers insights on the current state of international students and study abroad programs during the spring 2026 term. This year’s Snapshot focuses specifically on international student recruitment, campus priorities, and study abroad trends—topics that remain central to enrollment strategy and institutional planning across higher education. You can catch up on AACRAO insights from the 2025 Spring Snapshot, in which Julia Funaki, Director of International, noted: “… international education is in a moment of fundamental uncertainty, but institutions aren’t backing down from their commitment.”
AACRAO, as a member of the Open Doors Advisory Group, supports these surveys and encourages participation from member institutions. Please note that the Spring Snapshot is not part of the annual Open Doors survey cycle, but rather a separate IIE pulse survey designed to provide timely updates on the current state of international educational exchange.
International educational exchange continues to be a major force in higher education and the broader U.S. economy. Beyond economics, international exchange strengthens campus learning environments, expands research collaboration, and prepares students for an increasingly interconnected world.
The Spring Snapshot helps capture how institutions are responding to this evolving landscape. By participating, colleges and universities contribute valuable context around recruitment strategies, institutional priorities, and student engagement trends that numbers alone cannot fully explain. The findings will be aggregated and published in an upcoming IIE report scheduled for release in summer 2026. Take the survey today.
This survey also provides institutions with an opportunity to ensure their experiences and perspectives are reflected in national conversations about international education. As campuses adapt to policy changes, demographic shifts, and changing student expectations, comprehensive participation helps produce more accurate and representative insights for the field.
IIE has published prior Snapshot reports for both spring and fall terms, which have helped institutions benchmark trends and better understand how peers across the country are approaching internationalization efforts.
Institutions interested in participating should complete the survey by Wednesday, May 27, 2026. Questions about the survey may be directed to relsurveys@iie.org.
AACRAO thanks institutions for their continued participation in efforts that help inform the international education community and strengthen understanding across the field.
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