Heidi Gilman, 17, a high school senior in Northern Virginia, had long dreamed of attending the University of California San Diego.

She envisioned herself studying politics on the coastal campus, enjoying sunny weather and visiting nearby family.

But after President Trump was re-elected last fall, and as she became disillusioned with American politics, she began to ask herself, “Is this how I want to spend the next four years of my life?” The question prompted her to look elsewhere and apply to Trinity College Dublin — a place where she said she could learn about politics and social policy from another country’s perspective.

Since Mr. Trump’s inauguration in January, universities across the United States have become targets of a new White House agenda to change higher education in the country. Federal funds supporting research have been cut and programs that encourage diversity on campuses have been upended.

While international students face an urgent need to find universities that will sponsor their visas and allow them to continue their studies, some U.S. citizens are leaving for what they believe are better opportunities.

It’s not clear whether enrollment will be affected for the coming academic year, but The New York Times asked U.S. students in a callout who were considering schools abroad next year what had motivated them to leave. Most of them said they sought a less tumultuous backdrop to their college experiences and were motivated by various federal policies and actions in recent months.

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