A survey of 825 colleges by the Institute of International Education (IIE) shows a dramatic 17 percent year-on-year fall in first-time international student enrolment this autumn, with Indian students accounting for the lion’s share of the decline. Ninety-six percent of institutions blamed tougher U.S. visa procedures; 68 percent cited broader travel restrictions.
India has been the largest source of foreign students in the United States for three consecutive years, so even a modest percentage drop there ripples across the sector. University admissions officers say the pause in student-visa interviews earlier this year—implemented to roll out mandatory social-media vetting—created a backlog that many applicants could not overcome before the semester start.
![Indian Student Numbers Plunge, Driving 17 % Drop in New U.S. International Enrolment]()
The Trump administration counters that enhanced screening is essential for national security and points to record overall student numbers (1.2 million) last academic year. Still, several large public universities report double-digit declines in Indian graduate cohorts, jeopardizing research projects and teaching-assistant coverage.
Financially the stakes are high: NAFSA estimates international students injected $55 billion into the U.S. economy in 2024, much of it via full tuition. With domestic enrolment still shrinking, tuition-dependent institutions face an acute revenue squeeze and are lobbying for interview-waiver reinstatements.
Employers that rely on the F-1 to OPT to H-1B pipeline should prepare for a smaller graduate talent pool in STEM fields, while relocation vendors may see softer demand for student housing and ancillary services.
India has been the largest source of foreign students in the United States for three consecutive years, so even a modest percentage drop there ripples across the sector. University admissions officers say the pause in student-visa interviews earlier this year—implemented to roll out mandatory social-media vetting—created a backlog that many applicants could not overcome before the semester start.
The Trump administration counters that enhanced screening is essential for national security and points to record overall student numbers (1.2 million) last academic year. Still, several large public universities report double-digit declines in Indian graduate cohorts, jeopardizing research projects and teaching-assistant coverage.
Financially the stakes are high: NAFSA estimates international students injected $55 billion into the U.S. economy in 2024, much of it via full tuition. With domestic enrolment still shrinking, tuition-dependent institutions face an acute revenue squeeze and are lobbying for interview-waiver reinstatements.
Employers that rely on the F-1 to OPT to H-1B pipeline should prepare for a smaller graduate talent pool in STEM fields, while relocation vendors may see softer demand for student housing and ancillary services.
