Missouri University of Science and Technology has seen a 17% decrease in applications for the fall compared to last year, and the school in Rolla is blaming difficulties that international students are facing getting visas and concerns over artificial intelligence.
“The international situation is a lot of it, visas being stopped and blocked,” Provost John Harris said. “Probably two-thirds of the drop in applications we saw was due to the international issues and international students.”
Colleges and universities across the country have seen lower enrollment from international students due to Trump administration policies on student visas and concerns students won’t be able to stay to finish their degrees if they do come to study.
Those policies are out of the control of anyone in higher education, but S&T is working with lawmakers to make sure they know the importance of international students.
“We have confidence in our representatives in government that they will navigate the way through these waters,” Harris said. “We’re hoping they are aware of this and can help us have access to top talent in the world and can compete with the rest of the world.”
Harris also said concerns that artificial intelligence is threatening the job market in computer-related fields is another major factor in the decline in applications. He said those concerns are not warranted.
“AI is not taking jobs, it’s people with AI skills taking the jobs of people without those skills,” Harris said. “That’s why we are making sure our graduates have those skills.”
Missouri S&T recently added a master’s degree in AI and has plans to develop a bachelor’s degree in the field.
Despite the decline in applications, S&T is projecting an incoming class in the fall that is about the same size as last year’s.
“Looking at deposits that have been put down, we’re down only 80 students from this time last year, out of a class of 1,200,” Harris said. “That’s good news, and we are doing a good job recruiting.”
Harris said the school has not changed any of its admission requirements.
Other University of Missouri schools have not seen similar declines in applications. According to UM system data, Mizzou has a 5% increase, University of Missouri-Kansas City is up 3%, and University of Missouri-St. Louis is up more than 14%.