Overview
- U.S. institutions hosted 1,177,766 international students in 2024–25, a roughly 5% annual increase that accounted for about 6% of college enrollment and nearly $55 billion in economic impact.
- An IIE fall 2025 snapshot of 825 colleges reports a 1% overall decline this term, with new international enrollments down 17%, graduate numbers down about 12%, and undergraduate counts up 2%.
- Participation in post‑graduation Optional Practical Training rose strongly, reaching 294,253 students in 2024–25 (up about 21%), with an additional 14% gain reported in the fall snapshot.
- Institutions and researchers point to visa actions and proposals as key drivers of uncertainty, including a reported 6,000-plus visa revocations, a pause in interview scheduling with expanded vetting, a proposed four‑year cap on student stays, and grant‑linked enrollment caps.
- Source-country patterns are shifting as India leads with about 363,019 students (up ~10%) and China declines to roughly 265,919 (down ~4%), while campuses respond with deferrals into 2026, recruitment in new markets, and budget cuts where losses are steep.