Survey: First-Time International Student Enrollment Falls 17% as Many Report Feeling 'Unwelcome' in U.S.

New survey finds sharp drop in first-time international enrollment

A survey by the Institute of International Education found that first-time international student enrollment at U.S. colleges fell by 17% this fall, continuing a downward trend after a 7% decline in 2024. The survey collected responses from 828 U.S. colleges and universities; more than half reported fewer international students this year and over a quarter described the falloff as a "substantial decrease."

Visa hurdles and policy shifts cited as primary causes

Institutions pointed to policies enacted under the Trump administration as the main driver. Nearly all colleges that reported enrollment declines named visa problems as a significant barrier for prospective students — a sharp rise from the roughly 64% of schools that cited visa issues during President Biden’s first year. Earlier this year the administration briefly revoked the visas of at least 1,800 students before reversing that decision in April, paused new student visa interviews in May while considering stricter social-media screening for applicants, and pursued an effort to strip Harvard University of authority to host international students, a move later blocked by a court.

Perceptions and politics are weighing on interest

Colleges say the decline is not only procedural. Two-thirds of institutions experiencing drops reported that students feeling "unwelcome" in the U.S. was a significant factor — up from 25% four years earlier. A similar share cited the broader social and political environment as dampening interest in studying in America.

Economic impact and campus concentration

Overall international enrollment (including both new and continuing students) declined by about 1%. Although international students represent a modest share of total U.S. college enrollments, they have outsized economic importance: roughly 80% pay their own tuition, enabling institutions to redirect more scholarship funds to domestic students. For the 2024–25 academic year, NAFSA estimated international students contributed approximately $42.9 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 355,000 American jobs. NAFSA also estimated this year’s reduced enrollment will cost roughly $1.1 billion and eliminate about 23,000 jobs.

The impact is uneven across programs and campuses: more than half of international students enroll in graduate programs, and many concentrate at prestigious coastal institutions in the Northeast and California.

Outlook

Future trends are uncertain. President Trump has recently used a softer tone toward international students, defending a proposal to issue 600,000 visas to Chinese students and saying, "It's not that I want them, but I view it as a business," adding concerns that cutting international enrollment too far could "destroy our entire university and college system." How policy choices, visa processes, and perceptions of the U.S. will influence recruitment in coming years remains to be seen.

Key takeaways: First-time international enrollment is down sharply; visa and policy changes plus perceptions of being "unwelcome" are major contributors; the decline has measurable economic consequences and affects graduate programs and elite coastal campuses disproportionately.