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Data-Driven Analytics
Data-Driven Analytics
Universities are urged to make more data-driven decisions each year. Trilby Suite is designed with reporting and analytics at the top of mind, but we take it a step further by partnering with leading organizations to bring much-needed data analysis to the field to better understand international students and institutional operations, paving the way for better student outcomes and greater institutional efficiency. Plus, Jason likes to get nerdy with it, so, it's a win-win.
Fall 2025 Snapshot
Fall 2025 Snapshot
NAFSA and JB International estimate that international students’ economic contributions to the U.S. economy this fall dropped by $1.1 billion, costing the U.S. nearly 23,000 jobs. This is based on the Fall 2025 International Student Enrollment Snapshot published by the Institute of International Education (IIE), which revealed a 17 percent decline in new international student enrollments. Factors driving the fall 2025 enrollment decline, as well as policy solutions—including improving visa processing, preserving Duration of Status, and protecting Optional Practical Training—are identified in the Fall 2025 International Student Enrollment Snapshot and Economic Impact report.
NAFSA Economic Value Tool
NAFSA Economic Value Tool
Jason engineered the Economic Value Tool back in 2001 and continues to work in partnership with NAFSA to produce the analysis each year.
JBI produced the data analysis for NAFSA's 2024-25 Economic Value Tool.
Fast Facts:
International students and their families contributed $42.9 billion to the U.S. economy. This represents a nearly $1 billion (or 2.1 percent) decrease in dollars contributed during the prior academic year.
355,736 jobs were created or supported during this same timeframe, meaning for every three international students, one U.S. job was created or supported* in the following sectors: higher education, accommodation, dining, retail, transportation, telecommunications, and health insurance. This represents a decrease of 22,439 jobs (or 5.9 percent) supported in the economy from the prior academic year.
For every three international students, one U.S. job is created/supported in sectors including higher education, accommodation, dining, retail, transportation, telecommunications, and health insurance. This figure remains the same compared to last year’s analysis.
Economic contributions by international students at community colleges increased for the third year in a row. Their activity was measured at $2.2 billion (up 10.5 percent, significantly less than last year’s growth of 33 percent) and they supported more than 9,000 jobs (an increase of 7.4 percent compared to 28 percent last year).
The economic contributions of international students enrolled in U.S. college and university English language programs (ELP) also increased 5.7 percent to $393.3 million but remain 44 percent below their pre-pandemic levels.
The five states that saw the largest amount of economic activity were (in descending order): California, New York, Massachusetts, Texas, and Illinois—the same top five as the last two years.
The top ten U.S. states that generated the highest dollar contribution in the 2024-25 academic year are: California, New York, Massachusetts, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, and Georgia. The members of Congress whose congressional districts generated the highest dollars during the 2024-25 academic year are: Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07); Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10); Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13); Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37); Rep. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13); Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD-07); Rep. Katherine Clark (MA-05); Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-04); Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07); and Rep. Lateefah Simon (CA-12).
2025 Annual Conference & Expo Survey Analysis
2025 Annual Conference & Expo Survey Analysis
The NAFSA 2025 Annual Conference and Expo welcomed international educators from more than 100 countries in San Diego, CA. We gathered to learn, network, and connect with peers and experts dedicated to "Purpose, Place, and Partnership.
JB International conducted both a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data collected by NAFSA to compile an overall summation of the 2025 Annual Conference & Expo survey.
The information from the 2025 report will be critical in helping to inform business decisions for 2026 and beyond. The evaluation reports are shared with senior management, the annual conference committees, and the NAFSA Board of Directors.
International Educator Podcast
International Educator Podcast
Jason is featured in NAFSA's IE podcast! NAFSA: Association of International Educators has been conducting this economic analysis for over 20 years, and both Rachel Banks and Jason are the brains behind the operation.
In this episode, they talk about COVID’s affect on last year’s data and notable findings, under reported takeaways from the Open Doors report and NAFSA’s analysis, the history of the analysis, and how it’s evolved over the years.
More information:
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