Is the American Dream Dying for International Students?

Amid the policy shifts and uncertainty for international students in USA due to Trump 2.0 administration, the American dream is fading away. International students are attracted by the US educational system for a long time as the country is a beacon of academic and career opportunities promising top notch universities, better job prospects, and an experience for life. However, the recent H-1 B reforms, policy changes, increased checking, deportation risks, and other implications in USA are the reasons why is the American dream dead for international students. These challenges thereby impose is the American dream really dying for international students.

This Story also Contains

1. What is American Dream?
2. Trump Immigration Crackdown on International Students
3. Rising Cost of Living in America: Obstacle for American Dream
4. A Shift to Other Study Abroad Countries
5. Conclusion: Is American Dream Truly Dead?

We have created this article with a reality take on whether is the American dream dying for international students or not. Indian students can make an informed decision by understanding the current reality of international students in USA by giving this article a read. Then, whether or not the American dream dead depends on your personal circumstances. Due to the recent changes in USA student visa policies in 2025 imposing stricter and complex processes, the American dream is significantly harder to achieve rather than being dead. Let’s first learn what do we mean by American dream for Indian students.

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What is American Dream?

The American dream is a belief that international students can achieve great success in both academic and professional life by studying hard in USA. Students can be from any country, race, and origin seeking opportunities to thrive in life to live the American dream. Access to top notch US educational system, high research facilities, better job prospects, and a multicultural society experience is what truly is achieving the American dream.

Trump Immigration Crackdown on International Students

The path to achieve the America Dream is dying for international students and has become increasingly difficult due to the tightening of Trump’s immigration policies and stricter processing. It has instigated fear and uncertainty for Indian students and has taken a toll on financial and emotional health. International students is USA have faced challenges including increased scrutiny in the workplace facing deportation risks, high visa rejections, H-1 B visa reforms, and more raising a crucial question: is the American dream dead for international students?

One of the major pathways to achieve the American dream for Indian students currently is through the H-1 B visa programme that allow them to work temporarily in US in “specialty occupations”. Majority of Indian families in US have stayed in the country under the H-1B visa program. The ban on birthright citizenship for children of temporary visa holders effective from February 10, 2025 is one of the things that could end the American dream for Indian students. This has not only negatively affected the Indian families there on temporary visa but also poses a worry for prospective students dreaming to study in America.

Rising Cost of Living in America: Obstacle for American Dream

Financial challenges are the major reasons why the American dream is unattainable for many. According to a recent report by Investopedia, the cost of achieving the American dream is currently valued at USD 4.4 million for a lifetime including owning a home, car, retirement, wedding, and other aspects of life.

For international students, the main concern is the ever-rising cost of studying and living in USA , making it quite challenging for them to plan and budget higher education in the country. Being one of the popular study abroad destinations for Indian students, many students still prefer studying in USA despite the financial concerns. This often forces many Indian students in USA to take up odd or part time jobs to cover the basic expenses. This is again further problematic amid increased scrutiny forcing Indian students in US to quit part time jobs under Trump administration. This is one of the reasons why many assume that why is the American dream dead entirely.

A Shift to Other Study Abroad Countries

As per the recent survey by Keystone Education Group, 42% of students from around the world have now reconsidered their decision to study in USA as they are shifted to other more welcoming study abroad destinations such as UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Donald Trump's impact on study abroad is major as other nations are offering Indian students with more simple and favourable immigration policies, easy PR visas, high quality education, better job prospects, and easy work permit options. Hence, a shift from US to other countries for study abroad 2025 has been recently observed. This is because students often radiate the challenges as the answers to the question: is the American dream dying for international students

Conclusion: Is American Dream Truly Dead?

To be exact, the American dream for international students is not dead. However, the recent changes in the immigration policies under Trump’s administration and ever rising living and studying costs in US have posed different challenges for international students. This shows that the American dream is undeniably very difficult to achieve for students but it is not completely dead.