Trump's revoking of Chinese students' visas is the latest in a effort to quickly remake higher education in America, a controversial project that has roiled academia.

The administration's vow to revoke Chinese student visas could send home up 50,000 California students and be costly for UC and Cal State.

Universities across the U.S. host nearly 280,000 students from China, the second-largest population of international students in the U.S. after Indian students.