Harvard-Trump Visa Dispute Poses $180 Million Economic Risk to Boston, Analysis Shows

A mounting legal and political battle between Harvard University and the Trump administration over international student enrollment could have sweeping economic consequences for the Greater Boston area, according to a new analysis.

International students at Harvard contribute an estimated $180 million annually to the local economy, primarily through student spending, according to data from Implan, an economic software and analysis firm. The university hosts over 6,000 international students, representing 27% of its total enrollment for the 2024–25 academic year.

Harvard campus service truck | Source: Pexels

“Because Harvard has a very high international student population, it’s going to have more of that impact,” said Implan economist Bjorn Markeson. “The economy is a network structure, so dollars flow through. They don’t just stay in one place — and when something hits Boston, it affects New England as a whole.”

Nationwide, international students added $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy in the 2023–24 academic year, with Massachusetts alone accounting for nearly $4 billion and supporting more than 35,000 jobs, according to the Association of International Educators (NAFSA).

The dispute intensified after Harvard declined in April to comply with a set of demands from the Trump administration’s Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism. In May, President Donald Trump attempted to ban the university from enrolling international students. However, U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order to block the move until June 20.

Building in the Harvard University campus | Source: Pexels

Harvard President Alan Garber stated that contingency plans are underway to ensure international students can continue their academic pursuits.

Foreign students not only enhance campus diversity but are also a vital revenue stream. “They typically pay full tuition,” noted Princeton Review editor-in-chief Robert Franek, “which makes international enrollment an important source of revenue.”