Stevens Institute of Technology​ Lays Off 45 Employees Amid Trump Policy Changes

HOBOKEN, NJ — Stevens Institute of Technology has laid off 45 staff members, according to a school spokesperson, and officials are blaming the move on the Trump administration's efforts to limit the number of international students enrolling in U.S. universities.

Employees were notified of the layoffs on Aug. 19 and 20, the school confirmed.

In a statement provided to NJ Advance Media, Stevens officials said challenges related to international enrollment and research funding led the administration to make “the difficult but necessary decision to implement a reduction in its workforce.”

"Stevens undertook organizational restructuring to ensure our stability and ability to continue to effectively uphold our mission: position Stevens for continued excellence and growth, maintain our commitment to student success, create knowledge and promote academic excellence," a spokesperson said in a separate statement sent to Patch. "These changes... will help Stevens navigate this challenging period and emerge more focused on that mission."

In 2024, Stevens enrolled more than 8,400 students, according to school data. About 4 percent of undergraduates and 58 percent of graduate students were from foreign countries.

International students contributed $172 million to Stevens’ budget in 2023, enough to support 1,693 jobs, NJ Advance Media reported.

Stevens President Nariman Farvardin previously expressed concern over the school's finances due to Trump policy changes, according to the publication.

“Due to the significant uncertainties that lie ahead that could affect research awards, research indirect cost recovery, international enrollments, possible price escalation due to tariffs or an economic downturn, the leadership team is meeting regularly to review institutional and divisional budgets to proactively mitigate the potential for negative impacts from external factors,” Farvardin said.

As part of a broader effort to reshape higher education, President Donald Trump has pressed colleges to limit their number of international students and heightened scrutiny of student visas. His administration has moved to deport foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian activism, and new student visa appointments were put on hold for weeks as it ramped up vetting of applicants' social media.

On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security said it also plans to propose a rule that will place new limits on the time foreign students can stay in the United States.

The policies have introduced severe financial instability for colleges, said Justin Gest, a professor at George Mason University who studies the politics of immigration.

Foreign students are not eligible for federal financial aid and often pay full price for tuition — double or even triple the in-state rate paid by domestic students at public universities.

“To put it more dollars and cents-wise, if an international student comes in and pays $80,000 a year in tuition, that gives universities the flexibility to offer lower fees and more scholarship money to American students,” Gest said.

International students represent at least 20 percent of enrollment at more than 100 colleges with endowments of less than $250,000 per student, according to an Associated Press analysis. Many are small Christian colleges, but the group also includes large universities such as Northeastern and Carnegie Mellon.

The extent of the enrollment change will not be clear until the fall. Some groups have forecast a decline of as much as 40 percent, with a huge impact on college budgets and the wider U.S. economy.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.