Study Estimates $100K OPT Fee Could Cut Participation by 20% or More

A new ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin discussion paper examines the potential effects of imposing a $100,000 fee on Optional Practical Training. The study estimates that such a fee could reduce OPT participation by roughly 20%, with substantially larger declines depending on whether the cost is borne by students, institutions, or employers. The author estimates up to an 80% reduction in OPT if universities bear the cost. Because access to post-graduation employment influences international students’ demand for U.S. education, the paper estimates that reduced OPT opportunities could lower international enrollment and cost U.S. universities anywhere from hundreds of millions to more than $4 billion annually.