International Students Net Fiscal Gain for Netherlands
A CPB report finds international students are a net fiscal benefit over their lifetimes, with non-EEA university graduates contributing an average of
International students generate more in government revenues than they cost in public spending over their lifetimes, according to a new analysis from the Dutch Central Planning Bureau (CPB). The biggest fiscal gains come from graduates who stay in the Netherlands and enter the local job market.
A university graduate from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) contributes an average of €243,000 over their lifetime. For an EEA national with a university degree, the lifetime contribution is €82,500. The CPB's figures for graduates of universities of applied sciences are lower but still positive.
Lifetime Fiscal Contributions by Student Origin
The CPB's analysis breaks down the average net lifetime fiscal contribution by type of degree and student origin.
| Student Origin | University Graduate | University of Applied Sciences Graduate |
|---|---|---|
| Non-EEA | €243,000 | €117,000 |
| EEA | €82,500 | €13,300 |
Rising Retention Rates Post-Study
The report notes that retention of international graduates is increasing. Approximately one in five students from EEA countries remains in the Netherlands five years after leaving the education system. For students from non-EEA countries, the retention rate is about two in five.
Recent international graduates are also finding paid work faster than previous cohorts, according to the CPB. Their employment rate, however, remains below that of Dutch students.
Debate and Broader Impact
The findings arrive during a sustained national debate over the scale and impact of international education. The CPB report states that international students can help ease short-term labour shortages. It also acknowledges they can add pressure to the housing market.
The bureau's longer-term view is different. It does not anticipate significant effects on the labour or housing markets from international students. The CPB adds that these students contribute to innovation and international relations.
Responding to the research, Simone Hackett, a senior lecturer and researcher at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, defended the role of international students. "The reality is simple: Dutch universities, universities of applied sciences and the Dutch economy and society need international students," she said. Hackett argued that debates must be based on facts, not assumptions.
Her comments come as recent data from Nuffic shows a slight shift. The total number of international students in the Netherlands dropped for the first time in twenty years during the 2025/26 academic year. There were 129,764 international students enrolled, a decline of just 133 students, or 0.1%, from the year before. This follows several years of federal restrictions aimed at reducing international enrolments and strengthening the use of Dutch in education.
