Sharp Decline in New International Student Numbers
New international student enrolment at American colleges and universities has experienced a dramatic 17% decline during the current academic year, representing the most significant drop in over a decade excluding the Covid-19 pandemic period. This alarming trend, revealed in data released by the Institute of International Education (IIE), signals a substantial shift in the United States' appeal to global academic talent.
Visa Concerns and Political Climate Deter Students
The fall snapshot report indicates that 96% of institutions cited concerns about the visa application process as the primary reason for declining numbers, a sharp increase from 85% the previous year. These concerns include extensive visa delays, increased denials, and cancelled interviews.
Furthermore, institutions reported that 67% of prospective students expressed worries about feeling unwelcome in the United States, while 64% cited concerns about the broader social and political environment under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
This follows a 7.2% decrease during the 2024/25 academic year, which spanned the final months of the Biden administration and the beginning of Trump's second term. The current administration's approach has included visa revocations, deportations, and funding cuts to universities.
Economic and Competitive Consequences
Fanta Aw, executive director and chief executive of Nafsa: Association of International Educators, highlighted the severe implications of this trend. "A close read of enrollment figures from last year and this fall shows that the pipeline of global talent in the US is in a precarious position," she stated, noting that international students contribute $42.9 billion annually to the US economy and support more than 355,000 American jobs.
"There are alarming declines that we ignore at our own peril," Aw continued. "Other countries are creating effective incentives to capitalise on our mistakes. The US must adopt more proactive policies to attract and retain the world's best and brightest."
The Trump administration has actively pursued policies to reduce international student numbers, including August's announcement restricting how long student visa holders may remain in the country. Previous attempts to prevent institutions like Harvard from admitting foreign students were blocked by federal judges.
Despite these challenges, the IIE's Open Doors 2025 report noted that the total number of international students in the US held steady in the fall snapshot and actually increased by 5% during the 2024/25 academic year to nearly 1.2 million students. Students from India, China, and South Korea continue to represent the largest cohorts.
However, education experts remain concerned about future implications. Clay Harmon of the Association of International Enrollment Management warned: "There are warning signs for future years, and I'm really concerned about what this portends for fall '26 and '27."
