New Foreign Student Enrollment at US Colleges Down 17% in 2025

New data released Monday by the Institute of International Education (IIE) shows that US colleges and universities recorded a 17% drop in newly enrolled international students for fall 2025. Overall international student enrollment dropped 1% this fall–not including new enrollees. 

The Details: The preliminary findings draw from 825 institutions, more than half of which reported year-over-year decreases in new international enrollment. The decline follows a 7% fall in new international students in the 2024-25 academic year, and is the steepest decline since the COVID-19 pandemic. Ninety-six percent of schools cited visa application difficulties, while 68% referenced travel restrictions as contributing factors. Many prospective students also faced long delays after the federal government paused new student visa interviews in May. A separate NAFSA analysis estimated a $1.1 billion loss to the economy due to the drop in international students. According to the Associated Press (Left bias), K-12 districts across the country are also reporting drops in enrollment among children of immigrant families. 

For Context: The decline comes amid an ongoing immigration crackdown by the Trump administration. In May, it barred Harvard University from enrolling international students and ordered current international students to transfer elsewhere. International students generated almost $43 billion and supported more than 355,000 jobs during the previous academic year, according to NAFSA. IIE noted that the 1% figure is buoyed by students who remained in the country for temporary work programs. 

How the Media Covered It: Breitbart (Right) framed the decline as a vindication of Trump’s immigration policies, emphasizing the impact on American workers saying foreign graduates “stealing” jobs from US professionals. It said business groups and the Biden administration prioritized cheap labor over American talent. Reuters (Center) reported on the Trump administration’s policies affecting international students, including efforts to cap enrollment at universities and the State Department asking visa applicants to make their social media accounts public in an effort to identify any online hostility toward the US. Associated Press diverged from other outlets, saying foreign enrollment “held steady” despite Trump’s policies. However, its coverage also highlighted the overall decline and the impact on universities.
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