By Marcelo Jauregui-Volpe
Most international recipients of doctoral degrees in science and engineering (S&E) in the United States remain in the country after graduation, according to new data from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES).
NCSES tracked where temporary visa holders who graduated from U.S. colleges or universities between 2017 and 2019 were living in 2023 and found that, of 44,450 temporary visa holders, 32,650 remained in the United States at that time. These data show the nation’s success in retaining foreign STEM graduates – an important source of talent for the U.S. S&E enterprise, which continues to experience significant workforce needs.
International scientists and engineers help drive cutting-edge research and development, fill jobs in critical STEM fields, and bolster the U.S. economy by generating new domestic startups and businesses. For example, a 2022 report from the Institute for Progress found that more than half of STEM doctoral degree holders working in American defense-related industries are foreign-born. Further, according to a 2024 report from the National Science Board, foreign-born individuals make up “19% of all STEM workers and 43% of doctorate-level scientists and engineers” in the United States.
Despite its success in retaining talent, the American immigration system still presents many barriers to talented STEM professionals who want to study and work in the United States. International STEM professionals often face challenges acquiring visas to come to America in the first place and then, upon graduation, face limited visa options for working and staying in the country over the long term. As AAU noted in a joint report with the Business Roundtable in 2022, “Under current law and regulations, the path for talented international students to come to our country and continue working can be cumbersome and frustrating.”
AAU has long advocated for changes to the U.S. immigration system to enable international STEM talent and entrepreneurs to continue making vital contributions to our nation. “America’s strength lies in its openness, freedom of ideas and our historic ability to benefit from the contributions of people from around the world,” AAU’s 2022 joint report stated, continuing: “As our national competitiveness and national security increasingly depend on our ability to innovate, it is crucial that our immigration policies assist, rather than hinder, our pursuit of the world’s top talent.
Marcelo Jauregui-Volpe is editorial and communications assistant at AAU.