The number of Indian students seeking admission to undergraduate programmes in the United States declined by 15 per cent in the 2025-26 application cycle compared with the previous year, according to a report by the Common App. The decline comes amid tighter US immigration policies and growing uncertainty over visa rules, which have raised concerns among international students considering higher education in the country.

The Common App report found that the overall volume of undergraduate applications for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year increased, but international applications showed a significant reversal. Through March 1, the number of international applicants had fallen by 10 per cent, marking the steepest decline recorded in the organisation's data. The figures indicate that while demand for US undergraduate education remains strong overall, international interest has weakened.

India recorded one of the sharpest declines among major sources of international applicants. The report showed a 15 per cent reduction in Indian applicants, despite India remaining the largest source of international students in the United States. The decline is significant because Indian students have formed a substantial part of the international student population at American universities, particularly across technology, business and other professional fields.

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The reduction comes as prospective international students face greater uncertainty over US immigration and visa policies. Stricter rules, longer processing concerns and uncertainty over future policy changes can influence whether students and their families choose to commit to expensive overseas education. For students applying to undergraduate programmes, such considerations can become particularly important because the decision involves several years of study and substantial financial commitments.

The Common App figures are consistent with broader concerns within the US higher education sector about the potential impact of changing immigration policies on international enrolments. An earlier report by an organisation representing educators warned that stricter visa requirements and policy uncertainty could result in as many as 110,000 fewer international student registrations at US colleges and universities in Fall 2026.

International students are an important source of revenue for many US universities and contribute significantly to campus communities. A sustained decline in applications could therefore affect institutions that rely heavily on overseas enrolments. The impact may be particularly pronounced if students increasingly consider alternative destinations where visa processes and immigration policies are perceived as more predictable.

For Indian students, the 15 per cent decline signals a notable change in application patterns toward US undergraduate education. The figures do not necessarily mean that all students who considered American universities have abandoned their plans, as applications can be influenced by several factors, including affordability, visa uncertainty and changing preferences for study destinations. However, the decline, combined with the broader fall in international applicants, highlights the potential effect of US immigration policy on the country's appeal as a destination for overseas undergraduate education.

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