The report finds that foreign enrollment at U.S. colleges remains flat despite Trump’s visa crackdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — Foreign students are enrolling in U.S. colleges in large numbers this fall despite concerns that a crackdown led by the Trump administration will lead to a sharp decline, yet there are signs of disruption as fewer new students arrive for the first time from other countries, according to a new report.

Overall, American universities saw a 1% decline in international enrollments this fall compared to last year, according to a study by the Institute of International Education. But this number is supported by large numbers of students who remain in the United States for temporary work after graduation. The number of new students entering the United States for the first time fell by 17%, the largest decline since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some universities are seeing declines that have created significant holes in tuition revenue, but the decline overall is less severe than some industry groups had expected. Researchers credit colleges with helping students deal with visa issues over the summer.

“I think colleges and universities have done everything they can to advocate for the transfer of these students to the United States,” said Mirka Martel, head of the institute’s Department of Research, Evaluation and Learning.

At DePaul University, a Catholic university in Chicago, the number of international graduate students fell by about 62% this fall, the driving factor behind recent spending cuts. The university’s president blamed student visa problems and a decline in interest in studying in the United States, describing it as a “massive” disruption.

Overall, nearly 60% of colleges reported a decline in the number of new international students this fall, the survey found, while 30% saw increases and others saw declines. More than 800 schools responded to the survey, which provides an early look at trends before the full data is released next year.

The Trump administration has pushed to reduce enrollment rates in foreign schools

The Trump administration has sought to reduce America’s dependence on foreign students. The White House is pressuring colleges to limit foreign student enrollment and enroll more students from the United States. In June, the State Department began examining visa applications more closely after pausing all interviews.

The visa processing process has continued to be delayed in some countries, including India, America’s largest source of foreign students. Education companies report that future college students are now showing less interest in the United States and more in Europe and Asia. Although enrollment rates in international schools have remained relatively stable, there are concerns about their sustainability.

“There are warning signs for the years ahead, and I’m really concerned about what this portends in the fall of ’26 and ’27,” said Clay Harmon, executive director of AIRC: the Association for International Enrollment Management, which represents colleges and recruiting agencies.

Read more: With Trump’s crackdown on immigration, public school enrollment across the United States is dwindling

International students make up about 6% of U.S. college students but play a large role in campus budgets. Most of them pay higher tuition fees and do not receive financial aid, effectively subsidizing American students. Their numbers are much higher at elite universities, and they often constitute a quarter of the student body or more.

International students at the graduate level saw the largest decline this fall, declining by 12%. This has been mostly offset by higher numbers of students participating in elective practical training, which allows students to remain in the United States for temporary work after graduation. Undergraduate numbers rose slightly.

Graduate students make up the largest percentage of international students in the United States, and often come to study science, mathematics, and business programs. The numbers had already begun to stabilize last year after a post-pandemic surge, but the recent unrest appears to have accelerated the contraction. In the survey, colleges that saw a decline cited factors including visa issues and other travel restrictions.

The declines lead to budget cuts at some colleges

Many small and regional colleges have reported declines, especially among master’s and doctoral students.

In a recent speech on campus, the president of the University at Albany said the decline in the number of foreign graduate students had a “disproportionate impact” on the university’s budget. At Kent State University in Ohio, declining international numbers required an additional $4 million in cuts to balance the budget, the president wrote in an October update.

Even the largest public universities were not immune. The University of Illinois’ main campus saw a decline in its international numbers, as a result of a 6% decrease in the number of graduate students. At the University of Michigan, foreign graduate enrollment declined by a similar percentage. Arizona State University, which has more international students than any other public campus, saw its overall numbers decline by 3%.

Universities are offering more flexibility to students who won’t be able to get to campus this fall, according to the survey. Nearly three-quarters allow international students to defer their enrollment to the spring semester, and more than half allow to defer until fall 2026.

Meanwhile, colleges in other countries have sought to capitalize on the disruption, said Joan Ng Hartman, chief impact officer at NAFSA, an agency that promotes international education. In Germany, Canada and some other countries, colleges are stepping up their efforts to recruit students who might be reconsidering college in the United States.

“They have friendlier policies, and students realize that,” she said. “They have friendlier messages for the students they welcome.”

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