A Quick Guide to Boost International Student Enrollment

From learning about diverse cultures to introducing new perspectives in critical thinking, international students play a vital role in higher education. Today, attracting and retaining international students requires tailored strategies that address communication barriers, financial constraints, and cultural support.

If you’re looking to increase international enrollment at your institution, this guide explores key challenges and actionable solutions to strengthen your international recruitment efforts.

The Challenges of Attracting International Students

While the U.S. has seen international enrollment rebound to pre-pandemic levels, competition for international students remains fierce. According to the latest Open Doors Report from the Institute of International Education (IIE) and the U.S. Department of State, the number of international students reached a record high in 2024—but so have the challenges U.S. campuses face in sustaining this momentum.

Here are some of the top challenges facing U.S. institutions in 2025:

• Visa and Immigration Complexities: While overall visa issuance has improved, backlogs, delays, and sudden changes to optional practical training (OPT) or STEM eligibility continue to create uncertainty, especially for international graduate students and those in computer science and STEM fields.
• Rising Financial Burdens: Soaring tuition, limited financial aid, and inflation have made the U.S. a costlier destination. This disproportionately affects students from countries like Bangladesh, Ghana, and Nigeria, where currency fluctuations and economic instability impact affordability.
• Global Competition: Canada, Australia, and several European nations are aggressively expanding their international recruitment efforts, often offering streamlined visas, lower costs, and pathways to permanent residency, posing direct competition to U.S. higher education institutions.
• Cultural and Language Barriers: Despite interest in U.S. higher education, international students still face challenges adjusting to academic expectations, social norms, and mental health systems. Addressing demographic-specific communication needs and support structures remains essential.
• Geopolitical Perception: Uncertainty about U.S. policies, safety, and global positioning influences international student numbers, with families weighing both academic prestige and broader social context when making enrollment decisions.

Although the U.S. remains a top destination, recruitment efforts must now go beyond simply marketing degree programs. A robust strategy to communicate effectively, simplify processes, and foster community—especially via tools like Mongoose’s multilingual AI chat and messaging—can make all the difference in increasing international enrollment.

5 Ways to Increase International Student Enrollment

To succeed in international recruitment, institutions must adopt a student-first mindset, thinking like a prospective international student exploring their options. Would they browse your website? Attend a webinar or virtual tour? Reach out to your team via chat?

Here’s how you can support these actions and improve the international student experience from first contact through enrollment.

1. Build a Strong Digital Presence

Your institution’s website is a primary source of information for international audiences. It must be informative, accessible, and engaging.

With Mongoose Chat and AI Assistant, you can provide multilingual real-time support and automate answers to common inquiries 24/7. These tools help foreign students access timely, accurate responses, even outside your team’s working hours.

Ensure your site includes dedicated pages for international admissions, undergraduate enrollment, field of study options, and key milestones like visa and housing deadlines.

2. Target Messaging by Region and Demographics

Different demographics require customized communication. A student from India pursuing computer science may need different information than a non-degree applicant from Bangladesh.

Mongoose Text allows you to segment your contact lists and send targeted reminders about application steps, deadlines, and next steps—improving engagement and efficiency.

And with Mongoose WhatsApp, your team can connect instantly with students in regions where WhatsApp is the communication norm, ensuring consistent, culturally relevant support.

3. Simplify the Application Journey

For international students, navigating the application process—in a second language, across time zones—can be daunting.

Use Mongoose’s AI Assistant to guide students through every stage of the journey. From initial inquiry to document submission, automation and chat-based workflows help streamline complex steps and build trust with prospective students.

4. Proactively Offer International Support Services

Language barriers and time differences can complicate interactions with your team. But students still expect personalized, helpful service.

Mongoose’s Conversation Intelligence and sentiment analysis help your team detect when international students may be confused, concerned, or disengaging—allowing you to intervene and provide guidance in real time.

This level of insight is crucial to managing the growing international student population and keeping students on track through admissions and beyond.

5. Foster a Strong Sense of Community

Creating a welcoming environment for international students promotes retention and study abroad word-of-mouth recruitment.

Highlight international graduate students, student-led clubs, cultural events, and orientation programs. Use Mongoose Text to keep students informed about campus opportunities and remind them of support resources.

Building peer networks and institutional partnerships abroad further reinforces your commitment to global engagement and strengthens your international reputation.

Power Your Global Outreach with Mongoose

International enrollment is growing, but challenges around affordability, policy shifts, and cultural barriers remain. To compete, institutions must simplify the application process, enhance support, and prioritize multilingual, real-time communication.

Mongoose helps you do just that. With Text, Chat, and WhatsApp, your team can deliver personalized outreach and support at scale.

Book a demo to see how Mongoose can power your international recruitment strategy.

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