Santa Barbara City College International Enrollment Hits Seven-Year Low

Seven-Year Low Reached

As classes got underway in late August 2026, newspress.com reported that the number of international students enrolled at Santa Barbara City College reached its lowest point in seven years. Full-time international students dropped to 5% of the overall full-time campus population this year, down from 14% in 2019, newspress.com reported.

Visa restrictions and living costs drive enrollment declines

“We have seen significant declines in our enrollment, and that is due to changes in the visa regulations and newly implemented restrictions,” Assistant Superintendent Carola Smith said, as reported by newspress.com. Scholaroo.com noted that a rule implemented by the Department of Homeland Security in July capped full-time student visa holders at a maximum duration of four years, replacing prior policies that allowed learners to extend their programs.

The relatively high cost of living along the South Coast and the post-pandemic enrollment drop also contributed to the decline, school officials told newspress.com. International tuition at the college runs nearly 10 times what a California resident pays, according to Jing Liu, director of international programs.

Revenue Losses and Recruitment

Over the past five years, international student revenue has declined by $1.4 million annually, according to Chris Renbarger, vice president of business services. The college enrolls students from more than 40 countries this fall, mostly from Sweden, China, and Germany, Liu said.

For decades, the college has partnered with organizations like Blueberry, a Swedish student recruitment organization. Blueberry helps Swedish students obtain government grants and loans, providing roughly $1,700 per month for living expenses and about $7,000 per semester for tuition, according to scholaroo.com.

Swedish Student Enrollment Trends

Steven Engström, managing director at Blueberry, noted that financial incentives are increasingly insufficient to offset the hurdles. Swedish student Astrid Johnfors utilized Blueberry to obtain an F-1 visa and begin classes this fall, planning to spend the 2026-27 academic year in Santa Barbara before returning home to finish her degree.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the four-year visa limit impact students?

The Department of Homeland Security’s rule caps full-time student visa holders at a maximum four-year stay, restricting students who previously could extend their studies past that window, scholaroo.com reported.

What financial support do Swedish students receive?

Through recruitment partners like Blueberry, Swedish students can secure grants and loans from their government providing about $1,700 per month for living costs and roughly $7,000 per semester for tuition, according to scholaroo.com.

Which countries represent the majority of international enrollees?

This fall, the college enrolled students from more than 40 countries, with the largest contingents originating from Sweden, China, and Germany, Jing Liu told newspress.com.