The United States is experiencing a dramatic decline in international student numbers, with new enrolments plunging by 17% this autumn according to a sobering new report from the Institute of International Education.
Visa Restrictions and Travel Bans Take Their Toll
The sharp decline follows a series of Trump administration moves to tighten immigration rules, including reduced access to student visas. Universities faced pressure to limit foreign student admissions, while a 19-country travel ban that has been in effect for approximately six months created substantial barriers.
The analysis reveals this shift could cost the US an estimated $1.1 billion and eliminate 23,000 jobs nationwide, even as domestic student numbers continue to rise.
Russian anthropology student Polina Igumnova, who arrived at Hamilton College in New York in summer 2023, reports that foreign students are now avoiding the US for college, instead choosing universities in Europe and the Middle East. "They don't feel welcome or safe necessarily coming here based on what we have seen lately," she explained.
Students Face Personal Hardships and Institutional Backlash
Igumnova's personal experience highlights the human cost of these policies. She hasn't seen her family since arriving in the States because the risk of having to reapply for a visa is too great. "I haven't been able to leave the country since Trump came into office because of my visa... It takes some people up to half a year to get visa interviews in some cases," Igumnova said. "I obviously won't be going home for the holidays."
In late May 2025, universities began openly challenging the administration's restrictions. Harvard filed a lawsuit on May 23 after the government attempted to block it from enrolling international students. Two hundred college presidents also issued a joint statement warning that mounting travel and visa barriers threatened academic freedom and the country's research pipeline.
An Iranian student who asked to remain anonymous told Daily Mail her Chicago university has seen zero new students from Iran this year, compared to the usual 100 new Iranian students that previously created a sense of community. "It's upsetting. They don't try to come anymore either," she said.
Economic Consequences and Global Competition
Federal data reveals where the steepest declines are originating. An August International Trade Administration report found that Iran experienced an 86% drop in student visitors, followed by Syria at 63% and Haiti at 53%. Travel restrictions also significantly impacted enrolment from Venezuela and Russia, both US adversaries.
Though the 17% slide is smaller than the 30-40% drop NAFSA predicted earlier this year, the organisation's chief executive Fanta Aw issued a stark warning about America's slipping competitiveness. "The pipeline of global talent in the United States is in a precarious position," said Aw. "This fall, there are alarming declines that we ignore at our own peril. Other countries are creating effective incentives to capitalise on our mistakes."
Neal McCluskey, Director of the Center for Educational Freedom at the Cato Institute, noted the decline was predictable. "When the students don't come, neither does the money," McCluskey pointed out. However, he sees signs of change emerging. "I think the trend is swinging back to greater openness... I think that is in recognition of the value to the country of international students coming to our institutions and, often, staying and becoming important parts of the workforce."
The White House argues its policies are improving higher education by "restoring merit." New guidelines cap international students at 15% of a university's undergraduate population, with no more than 5% from any single country. A State Department official defended the stricter process, stating, "A US visa is a privilege, not a right."
As other nations capitalise on America's restrictive policies, experts warn that the long-term economic impact could be severe, noting that immigrants often drive entrepreneurship and research efforts that fuel innovation and growth.
