A reported plan to charge international students $100,000 for participation in Optional Practical Training would likely change enrollment decisions and intensify competition for international students, education leaders said. The OPT proposal would affect a major pathway that allows many postsecondary graduates to gain U.S. work experience after completing degrees. According to the reporting summarized in the coverage, leaders surveyed expect students would choose other countries if the fee were implemented. The proposal follows a recent federal court decision striking down the Trump administration’s $100,000 fee plan for the H-1B visa program. Taken together, the sequence suggests immigration-adjacent fees are becoming a central risk factor for student mobility and institutional recruitment strategies. Higher-education institutions are also watching for ripple effects in graduate employment outcomes and employer willingness to hire OPT participants if participation drops.