For the first time in three years, the United States has witnessed a decline in the number of foreign students enrolling at its colleges and universities, according to newly released figures. The downturn, which follows years of robust growth, is being linked by analysts to the increasingly restrictive immigration climate under President Donald Trump.
Graduate Programmes Hit Hardest by Decline
Data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows that overall international student enrolment fell by 1.4 percent for the autumn 2025 intake. This represents a decrease of approximately 5,000 students across the country compared to the previous year. The most significant drop was seen at the postgraduate level, where enrolment in graduate studies programmes plummeted by 6 percent, equating to around 10,000 fewer students.
This sharp reversal is particularly striking given the sector's explosive growth between 2020 and 2024, when graduate student numbers soared by more than 50 percent. While undergraduate enrolment continued to grow, it did so at a much slower pace: a 3.2 percent increase this academic year, down from the 8.4 percent growth reported the year before.
Policy Shifts and Visa Crackdowns Deter Applicants
Observers point to the Trump administration's policies as a key factor in the declining appeal of American higher education for overseas scholars. The President's well-documented antagonism towards elite universities, coupled with tighter visa and immigration rules, has created an uncertain environment for prospective students.
In a move that sent shockwaves through academia, President Trump ordered federal funding to be cut or frozen for several prestigious institutions in 2025, including Harvard, Cornell, and UCLA, alleging antisemitism and civil rights violations on campus. Although a judge later ruled the orders illegal, the action signalled a hostile stance.
Furthermore, the US Department of State recently boasted on social media platform X about revoking visas for 8,000 international students as part of efforts to "keep America safe." Universities have also reported widespread visa processing issues for applicants.
Mixed Fortunes for Individual Institutions
The impact of the trend varies significantly from one university to another. Harvard University proved a notable exception, with its proportion of international students rising slightly to 28 percent in autumn 2025, its highest level since 2002. This equates to about 6,749 students.
Other institutions faced severe declines. DePaul University in Chicago reported a staggering loss of 755 foreign students compared to autumn 2024. The number of new international graduate students at DePaul fell by almost 62 percent. The university explicitly cited visa problems and a "declining desire for international students to study in the U.S." as the causes.
The financial implications for US higher education are considerable. International students are a vital revenue stream, typically paying full tuition fees that are substantially higher than those for domestic students. According to the Institute of International Education, more than half of these students are fully funded by their parents, not through US loan programmes.
This enrolment dip marks a potential turning point for the global education market, suggesting that the United States' position as the premier destination for overseas study is facing unprecedented challenges from competitor nations and its own political climate.
