The number of international students enrolling in U.S. universities has hit a low not seen in over a decade, according to a recent report released on Monday.
International student enrollment for the fall 2025 semester is projected to decrease by 17%, as noted by NBC News. This marks the largest decline that isn’t associated with the pandemic in 11 years, based on data from the Institute of International Education (IIE).
This drop is quite significant when you consider that last year only saw a 7% reduction in enrollment. About half of the 825 U.S. colleges surveyed reported declines in international student numbers.
Fanta Au, CEO of the international education nonprofit NAFSA, expressed her concern, stating, “The United States is no longer the central place that students aspire to be.” This sentiment underscores a shift in perspective among prospective students regarding U.S. educational opportunities.
Many experts have identified new challenges in securing student visas as a key factor in this trend. For instance, there’s an ongoing backlog for international students trying to obtain visas—a situation exacerbated by delays in scheduling interviews, as reported by NBC. In addition, in August, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced new rules to restrict student visa holders’ stays to four years, aimed at addressing what they term “visa abuse.”
Some believe such measures make the U.S. less appealing in the eyes of international students. According to estimates from NAFSA, these students contributed approximately $43 billion to the U.S. economy last year. Thus, a 17% decline in their numbers could translate to a significant financial loss—around $1 billion.
The White House and DHS did not provide immediate comments regarding this evolving situation.
