Overview
- An IIE survey of 825 institutions finds first-time international enrollments fell 17% this fall, with most campuses reporting declines.
- Total international enrollment slipped about 1% as many students stayed through Optional Practical Training and other post-completion programs.
- DHS data show roughly 25,000 fewer students from Saudi Arabia, India and China compared with October 2024, with additional declines from countries including Venezuela, Chile, Germany, Turkey, Iran, Russia and Indonesia.
- Universities report budget pressure and cuts after steep drops in graduate numbers, including a nearly 62% fall at DePaul, while Kent State, the University of Illinois, Michigan and Arizona State also note declines.
- K–12 districts with large immigrant populations report losses too, with Miami‑Dade enrolling 2,550 newcomers versus nearly 14,000 last year and projecting a $70 million budget hit, and Albertville, Alabama anticipating at least 12 teacher reductions.