Foreign student numbers on U.S. campuses remained largely intact this fall, even as federal visa screening tightened under the Trump administration and universities reported administrative strain. A new Institute of International Education survey finds overall international enrollment down 1% year-over-year, while first-time arrivals plunged 17% — the sharpest decline since the COVID-19 pandemic. The drop in new students has already forced budget adjustments at some schools, though many institutions offset losses with graduates staying in the U.S. for temporary work.
Key takeaways
- Overall international enrollment fell 1% this fall compared with last year, according to the IIE survey of more than 800 institutions.
- First-time international students arriving in the U.S. declined 17%, the largest single-year drop since the pandemic.
- Graduate-level international enrollment fell about 12%, while undergraduate international numbers edged up slightly.
- DePaul University reported an almost 62% decline in international graduate students, prompting spending cuts and leadership warnings.
- Nearly 60% of responding colleges saw fewer new foreign students; 30% reported increases; others were flat.
- Optional Practical Training (OPT) participation rose and helped keep headcounts steadier as graduates remained for temporary work.
- Visa processing delays, particularly after a June uptick in screening and paused interviews, have been cited as a key factor, with India singled out as affected.
- Some institutions — including Kent State and University at Albany — have reported multi-million-dollar budget impacts tied to falling international enrollments.
Background
The United States has historically drawn a sizable share of the world’s college students, who constitute about 6% of the overall domestic student population but contribute disproportionately to campus revenue because many pay full tuition without need-based aid. After a post-pandemic resurgence in international applications and enrollments, momentum began to slow last year. Policy and administrative changes this year added new friction to visa issuance and student recruitment.
The Trump administration has signaled a preference for lowering U.S. reliance on foreign students by urging colleges to cap foreign enrollment and recruit more domestic applicants. In June, State Department practices changed: officials intensified screening and temporarily halted in-person visa interviews in some locations, creating longer processing timelines in certain source countries. Education recruiters and institutions say those delays, combined with shifting student preferences, are altering where prospective applicants apply.
Main event
The Institute of International Education’s survey — an early snapshot based on responses from more than 800 colleges — shows a modest 1% overall decline in international students this fall, masking sharper variations underneath. New, first-time arrivals dropped 17%, a fall driven most heavily at the graduate level. Schools reported a wide range of impacts: a few large public universities saw moderate dips, while some smaller and regional campuses experienced severe reductions.
At DePaul University in Chicago, international graduate enrollment fell nearly 62% this fall, which university leadership described as a “massive” disruption that contributed to recent budget cuts. Kent State reported that declining international numbers required an additional $4 million in reductions to balance its budget; the University at Albany described a disproportionate fiscal impact from fewer graduate students.
Major publics were not immune. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign recorded a 6% drop in international graduate students; the University of Michigan reported a similar decline. Arizona State University, the public campus with the largest international population, saw an overall decline of about 3%.
Analysis & implications
The short-term resilience in total headcounts can be attributed in part to more graduates staying in the U.S. for Optional Practical Training (OPT), which cushions campuses from an immediate cash shortfall. OPT participation rose this cycle and offset some of the decline in new enrollments, but it is not a long-term substitute for fresh incoming cohorts that pay full tuition and replenish campus pipelines.
Graduate programs — especially in STEM and business fields that historically attract large numbers of foreign students — suffered the steepest losses. That matters because international graduate students frequently fund research programs, contribute to teaching assistant pools and pay premium tuition that supports other academic activities. Continued declines would strain departmental budgets and could slow research output at affected universities.
Policy and perception both matter. Administrative changes to visa processing increase uncertainty for applicants and recruiters; at the same time, competing destinations such as Canada, Germany and other European and Asian systems are actively courting students with simpler entry rules and more welcoming messaging. If those shifts persist, U.S. institutions could face sustained enrollment headwinds for 2026–27 and beyond.
Comparison & data
| Metric | Change / Value |
|---|---|
| Overall international enrollment (year-over-year) | -1% |
| First-time international arrivals | -17% |
| Graduate international enrollment | -12% |
| DePaul University, international graduate drop | ~62% |
| Arizona State University, overall international | -3% |
| University of Illinois, graduate international | -6% |
| Kent State budget shortfall tied to declines | $4 million |
| Colleges surveyed | 800+ respondents |
The table summarizes key figures reported in the IIE survey and university updates. These numbers represent early-cycle data; full federal-level enrollments for the academic year will be available in the IIE’s annual Open Doors report next year, which will provide a more complete picture across institutions and program types.
Reactions & quotes
“I think colleges and universities did absolutely everything in their power to advocate to get these students to the United States.”
Mirka Martel, Institute of International Education
Martel credited institutional outreach and advising for mitigating steeper losses, highlighting efforts by international student offices to navigate visa backlogs and deferrals.
“There are warning signs for future years, and I’m really concerned about what this portends for fall ’26 and ’27.”
Clay Harmon, AIRC (trade association)
Harmon emphasized that while this cycle’s totals are relatively stable, the sharp fall in first-time enrollments could presage deeper contractions if recruiting and visa processing do not improve.
“They have friendlier policies, and students realize that. They have friendlier messaging for students that welcomes them.”
Joann Ng Hartmann, NAFSA (international education nonprofit)
Hartmann noted that competitor countries are actively promoting more welcoming pathways, which may redirect some applicants away from the U.S.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the 2024 declines will lead to a sustained multi-year drop in international enrollment remains uncertain; projections for fall 2026–27 are speculative at this stage.
- Claims that a majority of displaced applicants have definitively shifted to Europe or Asia are based on recruiter reports and marketing trends, not comprehensive global application data.
- The precise portion of the enrollment decline directly attributable to specific U.S. federal policies versus post-pandemic normalization has not been conclusively established.
Bottom line
This fall’s data show resilience in aggregate international student numbers but reveal a worrying contraction in first-time arrivals and graduate-level enrollments. Universities that rely heavily on international graduate tuition and research contributions are already adjusting budgets and staffing in response.
Policy shifts, visa processing times and competitor-country recruitment are key variables to watch. If first-time enrollments remain depressed for another cycle, the financial and academic impacts will widen beyond isolated campuses and could alter the U.S. higher-education landscape over the next several years.
Sources
- Associated Press — news report and university updates (journalism)
- Institute of International Education (IIE) — survey and enrollment research (official nonprofit survey)
- NAFSA: Association of International Educators — commentary and advocacy on international student trends (nonprofit/sector organization)
- U.S. Department of State — Visa Services — guidance and policy notices on visa processing (official government)