New International Student Enrollment in U.S. Universities Falls 17%

New international student enrollment at U.S. universities declined sharply between the fall of 2024 and the fall of 2025, according to a report cited by American media.

Analytical news outlet U.S. News, quoting a study by the Institute of International Education (IIE), reported that U.S. universities saw a 17% drop in newly enrolled foreign students during the period. According to estimates by international education associations, this decline is equivalent to a loss of approximately $1.1 billion in revenue and around 23,000 job opportunities across the higher education sector.

Despite the overall decline, undergraduate international enrollment rose by 2%. In contrast, enrollment in graduate programs fell by 12%, while non-degree programs recorded a 17% decrease, the report said.

Mirka Martel, Head of Research, Evaluation, and Thought Leadership at the Institute of International Education, noted that the findings provide only a preliminary snapshot based on data collected from nearly 825 institutions at the start of the spring semester. She added that comprehensive data will be published in the Open Doors 2026 Report.

According to the IIE, the downturn is largely driven by visa-related challenges, travel restrictions, and policy decisions by the Trump administration affecting entry for citizens of certain countries.

The impact of these restrictions is already visible at individual institutions. At San Diego State University, for example, international student enrollment declined from 957 students in the spring of 2024 to 889 in the spring of 2025.

To compensate for the loss of international students, many universities have intensified efforts to recruit domestic students and expanded their waiting lists. More than 70% of institutions have allowed admitted students to defer enrollment until the spring 2026 semester, according to the report.

Some universities have also turned to international branch campuses and online learning programs to attract students and stabilize enrollment numbers.

Experts warn that the decline in international student enrollment presents a significant new challenge for U.S. higher education. Reduced foreign student participation could negatively affect university funding, international academic collaboration, and the global standing of the U.S. higher education system.

As competition for international students intensifies worldwide, analysts say sustained declines could weaken the United States’ long-held position as the world’s leading destination for higher education.