Fresh enrollment of international students in the United States has dropped sharply this fall, marking one of the steepest declines in recent years amid President Donald Trump’s visa overhaul. According to the latest Open Doors report by the Institute of International Education, new foreign student enrollment fell by 17 percent this semester following an intensified crackdown on student visas. The fall continues a downward trend that began during the 2024–25 academic year, when enrollment had already slipped by 7 percent.

The report attributes the latest decline largely to the Trump administration’s restrictive immigration policies and rising geopolitical tensions—particularly with China. During the summer, the White House paused visa interviews for a month, followed by tighter screening procedures and reduced appointment availability, leaving thousands of students stranded or discouraged from applying. Many US universities have expressed concerns that the visa uncertainty, coupled with Trump’s vocal criticism of higher education, is damaging the nation’s long-standing appeal as a global education hub.

Despite these challenges, most American colleges are continuing efforts to attract international students. Over half of the institutions surveyed said they allowed prospective students to defer admission until next fall, while 60 percent cited the financial significance of overseas enrollments. The majority, however, emphasized the broader value that international students bring to campuses, including cultural diversity and fresh perspectives in classrooms and research programs.

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The Open Doors project, funded by the US State Department and supported by the Institute of International Education since 1919, revealed major geographic shifts as well. India remains the largest source of international students, sending over 363,000 to the US in the 2024–25 academic year—a 10 percent increase from the prior year. China followed with about 266,000 students, a 4 percent decline, reflecting continued political friction.

While the total number of foreign students in the US still rose 5 percent to about 1.2 million in the same period, the drop in new enrollments underscores a troubling long-term trend. International students contributed nearly 55 billion dollars to the US economy in 2024, but educators warn that if the policy uncertainty continues, the country’s global competitiveness in higher education could face sustained erosion.

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