Visa delays, travel bans, and future uncertainty — it’s true that recent changes could make international students feel unwelcome in the United States.
Still, the US has more top-ranked universities than any other nation and, even in 2025, hosts more international students when compared with other study abroad destinations.
At a time when Canada, the UK, and Australia are competing hard for global talent, US campuses continue to pair rigorous academics with real-world experience. Internships, co-ops, and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) experiences help students in the US build career-ready skills and confidence.
The decision to study internationally seems more difficult than ever. As you weigh your options, Auburn Global’s senior student services director, Yi Wang, has a clear message:
Auburn University welcomes you — once you’re here, you’re family.
International Students Find a New Home at Auburn
Auburn University is located in a small college town known for its Southern hospitality. Wang, originally from China, came to Alabama for graduate study — and stayed. That was 10 years ago.
“I hadn’t intended to stay, but I got used to the life here and found my passion providing international student services,” said Wang. “My parents moved here after they retired. They feel comfortable [here]. Sometimes they don’t have enough English to communicate and everybody over here is so helpful that they do fine.”
At Auburn, the international student community is small — less than 5% of the student population, according to Wang — but welcomed. Advisors and professors get to know you by name and make time for your needs and concerns.
“Here, the connection is so tight. Advisors and professors see you as family,” said Wang. Her advice may come from a professional standpoint, “but the passion is behind it, as if I’m giving the same advice to my own children.”
Get More from Your International Study Investment
Why does a strong network of advisors, instructors, and staff matter for international students?
Visa and immigration help: The staff helps you navigate requirements so you can focus on academics.
Academic guidance: Advisors have experience helping international students design an academic plan aligned to their goals.
Career development: Faculty and advisors have relationships with employers and can connect students with internship opportunities.
Emotional support and community building: Advisors help you find community, events, and support when you need it.
International students in the United States are often surprised by the support they receive beyond academics — and by how many opportunities extend beyond ultra-elite students. For example, Auburn is a public university with a strong reputation across several areas of study that helps create clear pathways from classroom to career.
“Our international office also provides OPT [Optional Practical Training] and CPT [Curricular Practical Training] support for international students. They’re very experienced in finding opportunities,” said Wang. “Auburn also helps with co-op placement. We had a civil engineering student originally from Thailand. She started her co-op with a local road and construction company, and they hired her after she graduated.”
Check out more success stories from Auburn international students and alumni >
Support and Academics are a Winning Combination
Navigating campus, culture, and opportunities is hard to do alone, especially in a different country. Having someone who knows the landscape can save you time and resources — and help you take advantage of everything available.
“I see more and more undergrad international students adjust their majors,” said Wang. “That’s because they get to see very early in the process where their major is leading them. They see if their education will align with their future job placement.”
The opposite can happen, too. “A Chinese business student had a CPT in New York, connected through advisors and department mentors,” said Wang. “He came back energized — this was the field he wanted.” That early exposure helped him narrow his focus so he could strengthen his resume for junior and senior year applications.
Students in every major can gain professional experience at Auburn. Academic departments work directly with employers, including regional manufacturers and aerospace organizations, to connect students with opportunities. They also work with global brands across business, manufacturing, and engineering.
“As an international student myself, before, I realized a lot of international students come here just to focus on academics,” said Wang. “This kind of curriculum, along with our help as advisors, teaches students to consider their career after university.”
Auburn Is a Top-Tier Public University
Auburn is an R-1 research institution with several programs ranked in the top 100 of all universities in the United States, including those in the following areas of study:
Auburn University students follow a common pathway: learn, practice, and then apply your skills in professional settings. By graduation, students have the theoretical knowledge, practical experience, and industry connections they need to launch their careers.
“You start with core classes, move into your major, and then use that knowledge in the field through co-ops, internships, and capstones. The curriculum guides students to combine education with experience,” said Wang.
For Auburn undergraduates in 2024, first-destination results show an 81% employment rate, with an additional 15% continuing to graduate school. “Auburn is well-known [for its] engineering and business school in this region and companies come to campus to find employees,” said Wang. Students in business, finance, and logistics also benefit from the region’s employer network and Auburn’s career fairs.
Students Go from the Auburn Classroom to a Career
International students are by definition motivated, but you don’t have to be at the very top of your class to find success studying abroad at Auburn. Wang mentions that many of her students weren’t thinking about their careers when she first met them.
“An international materials engineering student told me that he already has a job in his major,” said Wang. “He’s had good grades, but isn’t a 4.0 student. Instead, he leveraged hands-on experience, faculty mentorship, and campus resources, and secured his first role before graduation.”
Part of what makes the difference at Auburn, according to Wang, is that mentors, advisors, and professors show up for their international students. Support at Auburn goes beyond office hours.
“When you come to campus, you work with your advisor and get to know your professors — everyone is here to guide you,” said Wang. “But they become your friends as well and they also become your advocates.”
Don’t Forget the Only-in-Auburn Experiences
From school spirit at football games to being part of an Auburn Family that connects each student and alum, community is different in this small Southern town.
“Auburn football is something crazy in the best way. Students love the home games and become part of the Tigers,” Wang said. “And it’s such a small-town feel. When you run to the grocery store, you’ll see your professor, your advisor — they’re your local family.”
Besides that small-town Southern charm, Auburn is also centrally located for both career building and kicking back.
“We are centrally located, down South,” said Wang. “It’s only two hours to Florida, you can camp in the Smoky Mountains, or go to the big city — Atlanta is only 90 minutes away.” For careers, that proximity translates to employer visits, interviews, and internships within easy reach. “Top employers come to campus. Delta in Atlanta, Kia in the region, and strong aerospace resources for engineering students,” Wang said.
Is it Worth it to Study in the US in 2026?
Ultimately, this is a question that every student will have to answer for themselves, Wang acknowledges. There is uncertainty, and the choice to study abroad requires careful consideration.
However, educational and career opportunities in the US remain strong, especially at universities that blend academics with experiential learning.
At the right university, there are continuing education and career launching prospects that can offset the initial investment of an international education. And, as Wang has also pointed out, the reality around campus is much different from the stories in the headlines.
“Given the news out there — here, things aren’t like that. You’re dealing with people. You’re dealing with community here,” said Wang. “I live here, and I feel the warmth and the Southern hospitality, and I look at the friendships I have developed over 10 years and I know that will not change.”