New data reveals a significant decline in international students enrolling in U.S. colleges and universities, as the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies continue to affect higher education. For the 2025/26 academic year, new international student enrollment fell 17%, the largest drop in more than a decade outside of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Institute of International Education (IIE).

Ongoing Declines Linked to Visa Challenges

This follows a 7.2% decline in 2024/25, during a period split between the end of the Biden administration and the early months of Trump’s second term. Measures such as visa revocations, canceled interviews, deportations, and funding cuts contributed to the downturn.

The IIE survey found that 57% of institutions reported falling new enrollments, with 27% describing the decreases as “substantial.” Concerns about visa delays or denials, historically the top factor for enrollment drops, rose from 85% of institutions citing them in 2024 to 96% in fall 2025.

Social Climate and Student Concerns

Institutions also noted that international students’ fears of feeling unwelcome in the U.S. (67%) and worries about the broader political and social environment (64%) contributed to enrollment declines.

Fanta Aw, executive director of Nafsa: Association of International Educators, emphasized the economic impact: “International students contribute $42.9 billion annually and support over 355,000 jobs. The decline threatens our research, innovation, and global competitiveness.”

Policy Measures and Their Impact

The Trump administration has attempted to reduce foreign student presence through financial pressure on universities and restrictive visa policies. In August, the White House proposed limits on the length of student visas. Trump also sought to block some institutions, like Harvard, from admitting foreign students, though these attempts were legally blocked.

Financial leverage has been a key tactic, with federal funding threatened over campus controversies. For example, Columbia University restored $400 million in federal funding after agreeing to policy changes following pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

Overall Numbers Remain Strong but Warning Signs Loom

Despite declines in new enrollments, the total number of international students in the U.S. remained stable, growing 5% to nearly 1.2 million in 2024/25. Students from India, China, and South Korea represent the largest share, and 45 states reported increases in international student totals.

Experts, however, warn of potential long-term consequences. Clay Harmon, executive director of the Association of International Enrollment Management, noted, “There are warning signs for future years, and I’m really concerned about what this portends for fall ’26 and ’27.”

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.