受西方国家强化签证审查和就业市场竞争加剧影响，中国留学生回流趋势明显。2025年赴海外留学的中国学生约57万名，相较2019年减少13万名，其中完成学业回国的学生约54万名，占出境人数的94%，创历史新高[1]。
签证政策收紧成为重要因素。2025年5月至8月美国向中国人签发的F-1学生签证为4万34份，仅为近7年平均数量的5成[1]。与此同时，中国学生海外留学的经济压力不断上升，年均海外留学成本达人民币60万5000元，较2023年上涨约20%[1]。
然而，留学投资收益面临挑战。海归在中国的平均起薪为每月人民币1万2800元，仅比国内大学毕业生的1万700元高约20%[1]。就业市场中，多数企业倾向聘用国内大学毕业生，不少地方政府还限制海外大学毕业生报考公务员[1]，这进一步削弱了国外学位的竞争优势。
Chinese students studying abroad are returning home at historically high rates, with returnees accounting for 94 percent of those who went overseas to study[1]. This surge reflects multiple headwinds facing Chinese students seeking education in Western countries, including stricter visa policies and reduced employment advantages for overseas graduates.
The United States issued only 40,034 F-1 student visas to Chinese nationals between May and August 2025, representing just 50 percent of the average issuance over the previous seven years[1]. Meanwhile, the number of Chinese students pursuing overseas education reached approximately 570,000 in 2025, down 130,000 from 2019 levels[1]. Approximately 540,000 Chinese individuals completed their overseas studies and returned home, comprising the 94 percent return rate[1].
Beyond visa constraints, economic and employment factors are driving the return trend. The average annual cost of studying abroad for Chinese students has risen to 605,000 yuan, an increase of roughly 20 percent compared to 2023[1]. Upon returning to China, overseas graduates earn an average monthly salary of 12,800 yuan, only approximately 20 percent higher than the 10,700 yuan earned by domestic university graduates[1]. Many Chinese employers now prefer to hire graduates from domestic universities, and several local governments have restricted overseas university graduates from applying for civil service positions[1].