International colleges across the United States saw a sharp 17% drop in newly enrolled international students this autumn. Tight visa rules and new screening measures pushed many students to delay or cancel their academic plans. The Institute of International Education reported data from 825 universities to highlight this national trend.
Most institutions linked the decline to visa issues. About 96% pointed to application hurdles, while 68% blamed ongoing travel restrictions. Long visa wait times and a temporary pause in visa processing earlier this year also slowed admissions.
The Trump administration increased checks on legal immigration and pushed for stricter rules for foreign students. Consular officers now ask applicants to share their social media accounts. Some students lost their visas. Others faced long delays when applying for new ones. The White House said the policy changes aim to protect national security.
International students remain vital to US universities. About 1.2 million students studied in the US during the 2024–2025 academic year. They contributed nearly $55 billion to the US economy. Colleges rely on their tuition as domestic enrollment falls.
This year, 57% of institutions saw fewer new international students. Most schools also reported declines from India, the largest source of foreign students in the US.
