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The U.S. Census Bureau has proposed changes to the 2030 Census that could affect how university communities are counted. The proposal raises questions for both campus and local government leaders.
Under the proposed rule, international students and other foreign citizens who are neither U.S. citizens nor lawful permanent residents would be excluded from the population count used to allocate seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, even if they live in the community. The rule would also change how the Census Bureau determines a person’s usual residence. A separate part of the proposal would restrict certain demographic questions on the decennial census form, while leaving the American Community Survey unaffected.
Why does this matter to university communities? Census results help shape representation and provide data that cities, campuses, and other partners use to understand their communities. Population and housing data inform decisions about transportation, housing, infrastructure, emergency services, and economic development. Census data also factor into some federal and state funding formulas. In communities with substantial student and international populations, changes to who is counted and where could affect how those communities appear in Census results. The impact on any particular grant or funding source is not yet clear and would depend on which Census data that program uses.
ITGA members can review the proposal with their campus and local government partners and, if they wish, share their community’s experience through the federal rulemaking docket. Comments must be received by October 13, 2026.
The National League of Cities and U.S. Conference of Mayors will also host a webinar on September 28, from 3 to 4 p.m. Eastern to explain the proposal and comment process.
Greg McDanel, ICMA-CM
City Manager | City of Seaside, CA
President | International Town & Gown Association
440 Harcourt Ave
Seaside, CA 93955
831-899-6701 - Office
gmcdanel@seasideca.gov
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