Data Error Casts Doubt on International Student Figures in United States
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A major data error in the United States has cast serious doubt over the reported number of international students enrolled across the country over the past eight months. An irregularity identified in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) has prompted scrutiny of federal datasets, sparking concerns among education stakeholders.
The error, dating back to August 2024, was highlighted by EnglishUSA and revealed duplicated monthly data with static figures for students on F and M visas. Typically, such numbers would fluctuate naturally with enrolment cycles. However, the SEVIS data instead suggested an 11% decline in enrolment between March 2024 and March 2025 — a figure now considered unreliable.
“This irregularity comes at a time of heightened concern within the field,” said Cheryl Delk-Le Good, Executive Director of EnglishUSA, adding that it compounded confusion caused by widespread SEVIS terminations and visa uncertainties.
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for overseeing SEVIS, was alerted to the issue on 14 April. Although the department stated it was “working to resolve the issue”, as of 25 April no updates have been made to correct the dataset.
Mark Algren, Interim Director of the Applied English Center at the University of Kansas, who helped identify the anomaly, suggested the problem likely stemmed from a computer glitch rather than deliberate action. Nonetheless, he expressed concern that the prolonged error went unnoticed, potentially undermining trust in critical federal data relied upon by academic institutions.
Experts caution that August’s figures — the last accurate data point before the error — may not fully capture autumn term enrolments, as many students typically arrive later in the season.
Meanwhile, separate reports from the Institute of International Education (IIE) showed a 3% increase in international student numbers at the start of the 2024/25 academic year, suggesting continued growth despite political challenges.
The full extent of the enrolment trend in the United States remains uncertain until accurate SEVIS data is restored.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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