The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a rule that would charge colleges up to $100,000 for international students to participate in optional practical training, a temporary work program available to graduates of U.S. institutions. The proposal is currently under public comment and has generated concern among higher education leaders and economic researchers who argue the fee could significantly restrict the program’s availability and impact.
OPT participation has grown substantially in recent years, with the number of workers in the program nearly doubling since the 2015-16 academic year from approximately 147,000 to about 294,000 participants. International students frequently cite OPT as a key factor in their decision to study in the United States, and the program now accounts for roughly a quarter of all F-1 visa holders in the country. Most growth has concentrated among master’s degree graduates.
Economic research suggests OPT workers contribute positively to the American economy by spurring innovation, starting businesses, and creating employment opportunities. Studies indicate that STEM OPT workers lead to new job and business formation in their communities and generate increased patent activity both from the workers themselves and from American colleagues collaborating with them. Experts characterize OPT participants as complementary to the American workforce rather than substitutes for American workers, contradicting concerns that the program displaces domestic employees.
Advocates for the program warn that the proposed fee, combined with other administration restrictions on international students, could trigger further declines in international enrollment and reduce institutional revenue for American colleges and universities. A similar fee proposal for H-1B visas was previously struck down by a federal judge. The OPT program was formally established in 1992 and has been expanded multiple times since then to attract top global talent to the United States.
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