More than 5 million borrowers are in default—a number that could double in months, according to the Trump administration. The government can collect by seizing tax refunds, wages, and Social Security benefits.

President Trump's budget proposal for higher education emphasizes his mission to return priority back to the states by cutting these programs aimed at helping low-income students.

While some state flagship universities and well-endowed private colleges can build in-house models, smaller schools are working with vendors to offer cutting-edge assistance. 

The question is not whether international education remains valuable, but how it can be sustained amid shifting policies and fiscal realities.