List of Most Affected Universities by Trump's H1B Visa Fee Hike

Why are American Universities Hit First?

There is no visa cap for the US universities, which means they can apply for H-1B visas all year-round, unlike the private companies that can only apply during the annual lottery. This flexibility allows them to keep the medicine, engineering, and AI fields competitive for every student. Initially, they only had to pay a modest administrative cost that ranged between $2,000–$5,000, but now, they are facing the financial burden of paying a huge $100,000 per visa to the Trump administration. The director of the immigration policy at the Institute of Progress says,
“The universities are on the frontlines and this is just a pure tax on their pipeline.”

Also Read: New Visa Rules for international Students

25 US Universities Affected by H-1B Visa Fee Hike

As per the database of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), these are the 25 universities that got the highest number of H-1B visas in the first three quarters of Fiscal Year 2025 (October 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025).

Note: These universities rely heavily on global academic talent, as the total number of international students in these universities make up more than a quarter of total graduate enrolments.

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Hiring International Faculty for these Universities Under Threat

A majority of the scholars within many departments like STEM and medicine are international students, and around 40% of the faculty are also foreign nationals. The decision of raising fees on H-1B by Trump to $100kcanaffectthedecisionofuniversitiestohireinternationaltalent,especiallythedepartmentsthatarealreadystrugglingfinancially.Itisobviousthattheywillbereluctanttopaysixfiguresjusttohirearesearcheronboard,asobservedbyProfessorJorgeCoronado.Hesays,“An$100,000 sticker on already strained budgets would be taken into consideration [in hiring.] I don’t see how it wouldn’t be.”

OPT and F-1 Visa Changes Faced by International Students

The H-1B fee hike is just a small part of Trump's immigration overhaul. The F-1 student visas and the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs are also under their target. These are the major pathways for an international student to stay and work in the US after graduation. Targeting these could result in:

• New F-1 time limits could force students to leave sooner.

• OPT restrictions could cut off up to three years of post-study work for STEM graduates.

• Together, these changes break the traditional pathway from student → postdoc → H-1B researcher.

In effect, universities could lose both their future workforce and their most talented alumni.

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What is the impact on enrollment in the US?

The ripple effect of the ongoing immigration policy changes are already visible. As per the records of the U.S. International Trade Administration, international student arrivals from Canada and Mexico reduced by 19% in August 2025 as compared to 2024, and further reduced by 28% in July 2025. The result of this decline is largely felt in the university finances and research productivity as university students contribute significantly.

How are other countries reacting to the situation in the US?

While the US is turning inward amidst the ongoing visa changes, other countries are opening the doors for international students.

• Canada is considering a “clear offering” for skilled tech workers affected by the H-1B clampdown.

• Germany, the U.K., and China are actively recruiting international researchers and students disillusioned with U.S. policies.

Conclusion

Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee risks doing long-term damage to the global academic sector in America. Universities like Stanford, Columbia, and Northwestern are on the verge of losing their scholars and scientists. With this policy, not only will the US universities suffer, but the entire United States will face serious consequences.