The Trump administration is weighing a proposal that would attach a $100,000 levy on an international student’s ability to work in the United States after graduation, a move that could dramatically reshape the economics of studying at American universities.

According to a The Wall Street Journal story, the proposal would apply to Optional Practical Training (OPT), the program that allows international graduates to remain in the U.S. for one to three years after earning a degree. Roughly 419,000 international graduates were working under OPT in 2024.

If implemented, the fee would represent a significant change in U.S. international education, with repercussions extending beyond higher education to the broader workforce.

A New Cost For Global Talent in America

For many international students, OPT is not simply a post-graduation benefit. It is one of the primary reasons they choose the United States over competing destinations such as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.

The opportunity to gain U.S. work experience after graduation helps justify the enormous financial........

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