Washington, D.C., November 22, 2025:
Fall 2025 delivered a significant blow to U.S. higher education as new international student enrollments plunged 17%, marking the sharpest non-pandemic decline in over a decade, according to the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) latest Open Doors report. This drop highlights growing challenges faced by U.S. universities amid tightening visa regulations, rising tuition costs, geopolitical tensions, and increasing competition from countries like Canada and Australia.
More than half of U.S. institutions surveyed reported decreases in new international student admissions, severely impacting revenue from full-tuition payers. The decline also threatens the diversity and innovation vital to STEM programs, where international students historically represent over half of enrollees.
The report underscores visa application hurdles as a primary factor, with 96% of institutions citing related concerns and 68% pointing to travel restrictions. Students from India, the largest sending country, saw the most pronounced enrollment declines, despite India remaining the top source overall. Concurrently, graduate student enrollments fell by 12%, amplifying concerns about the future talent pipeline.
Education experts and institutions are calling for urgent policy reforms to restore America’s appeal as the global education leader and secure the flow of international talent crucial for sustaining innovation and economic growth. The persistent drop in new enrollments raises alarms not only about lost institutional revenue, estimated in billions, but also potential long-term setbacks in maintaining America’s competitive edge in the global knowledge economy.
As the U.S. navigates these unprecedented challenges, the educational sector and policymakers face mounting pressure to create a more welcoming and feasible environment for international students—including streamlining visa processes and addressing cost barriers—to reverse this downward trend.
