Colleges across the Atlantic suddenly look more attractive to some Americans amid federal spending cuts and crusades against campus protests, policies and foreign scholars. "Universities across the United States have become targets of a new White House agenda to change higher education in the country," The New York Times reported in late May. "Funds supporting research have been cut and programs that encourage diversity on campuses have been upended." In addition, federal aid for low-income students is targeted for elimination.

All this affects application and transfer decisions. Almost immediately after Donald Trump secured a second term last fall, several online course search platforms reported a dramatic spike in traffic from U.S. students. "Some U.S. citizens are leaving for what they believe are better opportunities," according to The Times, which says destinations include Canada, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

"Europe is the natural refuge for all Americans who no longer feel at home in their own country," British author Polly Toynbee wrote recently in an online column, citing "Trump's outrageous treatment of U.S. universities and widespread cuts to grants and scientific research." Gerrit Bruno Blöss, chief executive of a website about European campus opportunities, says he's "seeing universities, especially in the UK, increasing their efforts to attract American students." In Canada, universities in British Columbia and Ontario report increased interest from U.S. students.

A high school senior, 17-year-old Heidi Gilman of Northern Virginia student, applied to apply to Trinity College Dublin after Education Department firings and student deportation efforts. She explains her reasons to The Times: "Is this how I want to spend the next four years of my life? Do I want to be worried about these things, or do I want to be focused on getting an education and learning?" Reasons for overseas study also include better career opportunities and less expensive tuition. An added issue for certain students is that their ethnicity or gender identity could put them at risk on a U.S. campus. The Times quotes an unnamed Venezuelan-American citizen who's leaving Texas to attend University College London. "Any Venezuelan person here, no matter legal or not, is not really safe," the 24-year-old says. And Renee Breaux, an 18-year-old transgender student from Austin, Texas, will major in museum studies and history at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

Texas student says: "I didn't really feel comfortable staying in the country when I don't quite know where the future is heading." -- Renee Breaux, 18, of Austin

Columnist writes: "How can they justify erasing programs that help get poor students into college, where they will move up the economic ladder and bring their families along with them?" -- Juan Esparza Loera, Fresno Bee (California)

British author says: "Donald Trump appears to be doing everything he can to advertise to future global students to stay away and study elsewhere." -- Polly Toynbee