Overview
- Common App data reported Aug. 24–25 shows international undergraduate applications through March 1 fell about 10% for the 2025–26 cycle and applicants from India dropped roughly 15%.
- U.S. Department of State figures and analyses show a sharper earlier fall in visas, with 23% fewer student visas issued in 2025 and a 56.6% year‑over‑year decline for India.
- New federal rules notified in July removed the traditional “duration of status” and generally cap F‑1 and J‑1 stays at four years, while DHS has proposed very large fees for OPT and H‑1B pathways that add uncertainty for students seeking post‑study work.
- Analysts and associations warn the shrinkage could cost local economies billions and put tens of thousands of U.S. jobs at risk, with mid‑rank private colleges and some public flagships most exposed because they rely on full‑fee international students.
- Prospective students are responding by shifting applications to other destinations such as the U.K., Europe, Australia and Singapore, and institutions face longer‑term risks because applications, visa issuances and enrollments are linked and declines in one can amplify the others.