Indian Enrolment In US Universities Falls By 28%; Chinese Student Numbers Grow
According to the data released by the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), the international student enrolments in the US have dropped by 11% in the last year from March 2024 to March 2025. This has resulted in a loss of approximately $4 billion in economic impact.
The drop came despite the Institute of International Education (IIE) indicating a 3% increase in enrolments for Fall 2024.
Experts suggest that the decline can be attributed to rising visa refusal rates, changing international student preferences, and evolving political conditions under the US administration. As reported by the ICEF, Chris Glass, a higher education expert at Boston College, highlighted that the reduction is observed by tightening US immigration policies, including anticipated travel restrictions under President Trump’s administration.
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The Trump administration’s aggressive policies on higher education, often dubbed a ‘war on universities’, have increased fears among international students. Visa revocation of hundreds of students in early 2025 and threats to cut federal funding for non-compliant institutes have created aversion.
The SEVIS data shows significant drops in international students from several countries. Between March 2024 and March 2025, enrolments from India fell by 28%, a sharp reversal of previous growth trends. The reduction resulted from the visa refusals, affordability issues, and negative perceptions of US policies.
Also, students from Canada, Brazil, and Nigeria see a reduction in enrolment rates. However, Students from China and South Korea registered an uptick in enrolment by 3% from previous years.
The reduction is also observed in doctoral programs. As reported by ICEF, the number of international doctoral students has fallen slightly from 175,657 in March 2024 to 167,689 in March 2025.
Apart from the visa refusal rates and delay in visa processing, the uncertainty surrounding US immigration policies is pushing international students towards other destinations such as Canada and the UK.
Read also: US President Bars Harvard From Enrolling Foreign Students; University Calls It “Unlawful”
International students, who pay full tuition, contributed $43.8 billion to the US economy in 2023-24, supporting over 3,78,000 jobs. However, with 42% of prospective international students reportedly reconsidering US study due to visa restrictions and security concerns, colleges face significant revenue losses.
