The upcoming US Presidential elections are expected to have a significant effect on the US higher education systems. Although there is somewhat limited information on the higher education policy approaches of the two candidates, and both have been criticised for not providing more details on the topic, we’re outlining here some of their key elements from the available information, including their track-record while they served as President and Vice-President. 

If elected, Kamala Harris is expected to follow a similar policy agenda as current President Biden, alongside whom she supported the efforts to forgive student loans and make payments more affordable for loan borrowers. This means a reform of student loan programmes which would make it easier for borrowers to access relief. Also, Harris is likely to support the scrutiny of, so called, low-financial-value programme, an idea which higher education groups are generally opposing, but for-profit colleges are supporting. 

If elected, Donald Trump is proposing “additional, drastically more affordable alternatives to a traditional four-year College degree” and to close the Department of Education and give the power on education to the States. It is unclear what the repercussions for international education would be in such an arrangement. Trump proposed cuts in annual budget proposals under his administration of the 21st Century Community Learning Centres, which host programmes for students who are in high-poverty and low-performing schools and the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programmes which provides grants for services at high-poverty middle and high schools. On the other hand, Harris has supported both programmes. 

The candidates also differ on the question of DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) initiatives at higher education institutions, making it one of the ideological battlegrounds in the upcoming elections. We should have a clearer picture of what is to come after the election, and after the new Administration takes office. In the meantime, international student enrolment is expected to grow by the end of this decade regardless of the election results, as forecasted in the latest report by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in May 2024.