The number of international students arriving in the United States this August fell by 19% compared with the same month last year, the largest drop on record outside of the pandemic, according to data from the oficial website of the International Trade Administration.
The decline comes amid visa delays, new travel bans, and a surge in political uncertainty under the Trump administration, which has slowed visa processing and heightened scrutiny of student visa applicants. The travel records include both new students entering the US. and returning international students, serving as an early indicator of enrollment for the upcoming academic year.
A parallel analysis by The New York Times found a similar pattern. The total number of international students in the US grew 23% less this fall compared with last year, reinforcing signs that new student enrollment is faltering. For a nation long seen as the global hub of higher education, this data signals a significant shift.
A 24% drop from Asia and a sharp fall from India
The US hosts about 1.3 million international students, the most of any country worldwide, with over 70% from Asia, according to government data. This year, arrivals from Asian countries dropped by 24%, marking the lowest August numbers outside the pandemic.
Students from India, who represent nearly one in three international students in the US, saw the sharpest decline. Arrivals fell by 44% this August, following persistent delays in visa processing. Chinese student arrivals, already reduced since the pandemic due to strained US-China relations, continued to decline as well.
Steady European arrivals but deep declines elsewhere
While European students make up only about 7% of all international students, they accounted for 16% of arrivals this August, and their numbers remained relatively stable. The data shows small increases from the United Kingdom, offset by minor declines from Spain and Germany, and a sharper drop from Russia, reflecting broader diplomatic tensions.
But the biggest setbacks were seen across Africa, the Middle East, and South America. Student arrivals from Africa fell by nearly one-third, with Ghana and Nigeria seeing nearly 50% declines. These figures align with the new visa rules implemented in July, which restricted entry for citizens of Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Cameroon to single-entry, short-term visas, later reversed for Ghana after diplomatic negotiations.
In the Middle East, the long-term fall in student numbers, particularly from Saudi Arabia, continued, while South American enrollments also slipped despite post-pandemic recovery trends.
Policy, politics, and the growing sense of uncertainty
Multiple policy actions this year have created a perfect storm for international students. These include the temporary suspension of visa interviews in May, the introduction of new travel bans affecting 19 countries, and aggressive visa revocations targeting specific groups.
The number of F-1 student visas, the most common visa type for international study, dropped 22% in May compared with the previous year, according to early data from the International Trade Administration.
In June, the State Department instructed applicants to make their social media accounts public for “comprehensive vetting,” and in April, it abruptly canceled more than 1,500 student visas before restoring their validity. Meanwhile, students from countries like Iran, which remains under a travel ban, saw arrivals plunge by 86%.
Beyond the administrative challenges, a climate of political tension has added to the unease. Earlier this year, federal authorities attempted to deport international students involved in pro-Palestinian activism, an act later deemed unconstitutional by a federal court. Such incidents, have shaken confidence in the US as a stable destination for education.
“The problem isn’t that the students have lost confidence in the quality of US education. They have lost confidence in our administration’s commitment to international students,” said CEO of NAFSA : Association of International Educators, in an interview with The New York Times.
NAFSA projects a 30 to 40% drop in new international student enrollment this fall, translating into an estimated $7 billion loss for the US economy.
Which colleges are most affected
The colleges feeling the most strain are not the Ivy Leagues, but those most financially dependent on international enrollment.
What’s next for America’s academic influence
A continued decline in international student enrollment could have far-reaching effects. Nearly three-quarters of international students who earn doctorates in science and engineering stay and work in the US, and over 40% of all doctorate-level scientists and engineers in the country are foreign-born, according to the Times.
The newly instituted $100,000 H-1B work visa fee is likely to deepen the challenge, making post-study employment even harder for graduates.
The full scope of this year’s decline will become clearer as universities finalize their fall enrollment data and as the State Department releases updated visa issuance figures. But the trend is already evident.
The decline comes amid visa delays, new travel bans, and a surge in political uncertainty under the Trump administration, which has slowed visa processing and heightened scrutiny of student visa applicants. The travel records include both new students entering the US. and returning international students, serving as an early indicator of enrollment for the upcoming academic year.
A parallel analysis by The New York Times found a similar pattern. The total number of international students in the US grew 23% less this fall compared with last year, reinforcing signs that new student enrollment is faltering. For a nation long seen as the global hub of higher education, this data signals a significant shift.
A 24% drop from Asia and a sharp fall from India
The US hosts about 1.3 million international students, the most of any country worldwide, with over 70% from Asia, according to government data. This year, arrivals from Asian countries dropped by 24%, marking the lowest August numbers outside the pandemic.
Students from India, who represent nearly one in three international students in the US, saw the sharpest decline. Arrivals fell by 44% this August, following persistent delays in visa processing. Chinese student arrivals, already reduced since the pandemic due to strained US-China relations, continued to decline as well.
Steady European arrivals but deep declines elsewhere
While European students make up only about 7% of all international students, they accounted for 16% of arrivals this August, and their numbers remained relatively stable. The data shows small increases from the United Kingdom, offset by minor declines from Spain and Germany, and a sharper drop from Russia, reflecting broader diplomatic tensions.
But the biggest setbacks were seen across Africa, the Middle East, and South America. Student arrivals from Africa fell by nearly one-third, with Ghana and Nigeria seeing nearly 50% declines. These figures align with the new visa rules implemented in July, which restricted entry for citizens of Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Cameroon to single-entry, short-term visas, later reversed for Ghana after diplomatic negotiations.
In the Middle East, the long-term fall in student numbers, particularly from Saudi Arabia, continued, while South American enrollments also slipped despite post-pandemic recovery trends.
Policy, politics, and the growing sense of uncertainty
Multiple policy actions this year have created a perfect storm for international students. These include the temporary suspension of visa interviews in May, the introduction of new travel bans affecting 19 countries, and aggressive visa revocations targeting specific groups.
The number of F-1 student visas, the most common visa type for international study, dropped 22% in May compared with the previous year, according to early data from the International Trade Administration.
In June, the State Department instructed applicants to make their social media accounts public for “comprehensive vetting,” and in April, it abruptly canceled more than 1,500 student visas before restoring their validity. Meanwhile, students from countries like Iran, which remains under a travel ban, saw arrivals plunge by 86%.
Beyond the administrative challenges, a climate of political tension has added to the unease. Earlier this year, federal authorities attempted to deport international students involved in pro-Palestinian activism, an act later deemed unconstitutional by a federal court. Such incidents, have shaken confidence in the US as a stable destination for education.
“The problem isn’t that the students have lost confidence in the quality of US education. They have lost confidence in our administration’s commitment to international students,” said CEO of NAFSA : Association of International Educators, in an interview with The New York Times.
NAFSA projects a 30 to 40% drop in new international student enrollment this fall, translating into an estimated $7 billion loss for the US economy.
Which colleges are most affected
The colleges feeling the most strain are not the Ivy Leagues, but those most financially dependent on international enrollment.
- STEM graduate programs: Over 80% of international graduate students in the US pursue science, technology, engineering, or mathematics degrees. These programs have seen some of the sharpest enrollment declines this year. At the University of Central Missouri, for example, new international student enrollment reportedly dropped by half, according to the Times.
- Small arts and Christian colleges: Institutions with niche programs and limited domestic enrollment are at higher financial risk. Niagara University in New York reported a 45% drop in international students, while DePaul University in Chicago saw a 62% decline in new international graduate students, prompting pay cuts and hiring freezes.
- Public flagship universities: State universities like Ohio State and Indiana University have reported drops of 38% and 30% respectively, in new international student enrollments, as reported by the Times. For these schools, international tuition revenues often sustain research and community programs.
What’s next for America’s academic influence
A continued decline in international student enrollment could have far-reaching effects. Nearly three-quarters of international students who earn doctorates in science and engineering stay and work in the US, and over 40% of all doctorate-level scientists and engineers in the country are foreign-born, according to the Times.
The newly instituted $100,000 H-1B work visa fee is likely to deepen the challenge, making post-study employment even harder for graduates.
The full scope of this year’s decline will become clearer as universities finalize their fall enrollment data and as the State Department releases updated visa issuance figures. But the trend is already evident.
You may also like
Pakistan: Massive explosion on Jaffar Express derails 6 coaches; several injured
EAM Jaishankar calls for balanced approach to AI, says trust and safety must guide innovation
Major highways, roads closed due to heavy rain, snowfall in J-K
Bihar elections: BJP takes dig at Lalu Prasad Yadav over PM face; mocks 'family problems'
BB 19: Ashnoor Kaur's parents react to her ugly fights, says "Thought of pulling her out of the show"
