New international student enrolments in US drop by 17% in 2025-26: Survey, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• New international student enrolments in US universities decreased by 17% in the 2025-26 academic year.
• 96% of institutions reporting a decline cited visa application concerns as a primary reason.
• Indian students, the largest international cohort, experienced enrolment declines, impacting overall national figures.
• Total international students in the US increased by 5% in 2024-25, reaching 11,77,766.

Detailed Insights:

• The Institute of International Education (IIE) survey indicates that 57% of US higher education institutions reported a decrease in new international student enrolments for 2025-26.
• Visa related issues such as delays, pauses in issuance, and denials were identified as significant challenges impacting new enrolments.
• Indian students constituted 31% of the total international students in the US in 2024-25, followed by Chinese students at 22.6%.
• The number of Chinese students in the US experienced a 4% decrease compared to 2023-24.
• There was a 33.2% drop in the number of 'F' category visas issued to Indian students from fiscal year 2023 to 2024.
• Optional Practical Training (OPT) is considered vital for attracting international students, with 92% of US institutions believing students would seek education elsewhere if OPT wasn't available.
• Texas, New York, Massachusetts, California, and Illinois are the leading states hosting Indian students.

Key Concepts Involved:

• International Student Enrolment: The number of students from foreign countries admitted to and attending educational institutions in a host country.
• Visa Delays: Extended waiting periods for visa processing, impacting students' ability to begin or continue their studies.
• Optional Practical Training (OPT): Temporary employment authorization available to international students, allowing them to work in the US for a limited time after graduation.