Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Nov 18: US universities have reported a significant decline in Indian student enrollment for the 2024–25 academic year, with graduate admissions from India falling by 10 per cent and overall international enrollment dropping by 17 per cent for the fall 2025 intake, according to the latest Open Doors report funded by the US State Department.
Released on Monday by the Institute of International Education (IIE), the report shows that more than 61 per cent of American institutions experienced reduced enrollment of Indian students for fall 2025. The findings are based on survey responses from 825 US colleges and universities.
Among institutions reporting a drop in new student numbers, over 96 per cent cited visa-related challenges as the primary reason, followed by increasing travel restrictions to the United States.
Despite the recent decline, India remained the top contributor of international students to the US in 2024–25. Indian students accounted for nearly half of all foreign graduate students and about one-third of the entire international student population, marking an overall 10 per cent increase in total Indian enrollment. However, graduate programs alone still witnessed a 10 per cent dip.
The report further noted that more than half of US colleges surveyed expect new international enrollment to decline further in fall 2025.
Escalating Scrutiny Under the Trump Administration
In recent months, the Trump administration has intensified oversight of international students and skilled worker visas. Universities say the new measures are already discouraging applicants.
The Department of Labour has launched over 170 investigations into alleged misuse of the H-1B visa system — a key pathway for international graduates seeking employment in the US. The White House has endorsed a new proposal for a $100,000 H-1B application fee, prompting widespread concern among students and employers.
Defending the policy, White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told IANS that the fee is “a significant first step to stop abuses of the system” and to ensure American workers are not replaced by lower-wage foreign labour.
At the same time, conservative lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at dramatically reducing or phasing out H-1B visas. Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene recently reiterated her intention to push for a complete ban on H-1B visas across all sectors except medicine, arguing that ending the program would free up jobs and housing for American citizens.
Adding to the uncertainty, the US State Department has revoked more than 6,000 international student visas since January.
Economic Stakes Remain High
International students constitute around 6 per cent of the US higher education population and contribute nearly $55 billion to the US economy annually, according to the Department of Commerce. Their presence supports more than 355,000 jobs nationwide.
With tightening visa policies, heightened political scrutiny, and rising barriers to entry, American universities warn that the declining international student numbers — particularly from India — could have long-term consequences for the country’s academic, research, and economic landscape.