Fewer Hessians Want to Study in the USA - Hesse Students Turn Away from U.S. Universities Amid Rising Costs and Political Fears
Fewer students from Hesse are applying to study in the USA during Donald Trump’s second term as president. Applications for universities in Wisconsin and Massachusetts have fallen by nearly a third for the 2026/27 academic year. Officials point to rising costs, political concerns, and uncertainties among students with immigrant backgrounds as key factors behind the drop.
The decline in interest comes as universities report fewer scholarships for overseas study. High living expenses in the United States and a shifting political climate have made the country less appealing. Students from immigrant families, in particular, appear hesitant about pursuing education there.
Despite the downturn, Hesse still offers state-funded exchange programmes. The Hessian state programmes—Hessen-Queensland, Hessen-Wisconsin, and Hessen-Massachusetts—provide funding for students across all disciplines. Deadlines for Wisconsin and Massachusetts fall in mid-November, while Queensland applications close at the end of May. Other options include Erasmus , which covers tuition-free exchanges and monthly stipends for up to 110 days at partner universities. Uni Kassel students must apply by December 15. The IfAA (Internationales Fachbereichs-Austauschprogramm) at Uni Kassel also supports stays of one to six months, with a high approval rate and average funding of €1000. Its deadlines are November 15 and June 15.
The drop in U.S. applications reflects broader trends, including reduced scholarship availability and growing concerns over costs and politics. Hesse’s state-funded programmes remain available, but demand for non-European study destinations continues to weaken. Students now face tighter deadlines and fewer opportunities for financial support.
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