International Enrollments Fall 17% This Fall as Visa Delays and Policy Pressure Bite

New international student enrollments at U.S. colleges fell sharply this fall, declining 17% from fall 2024, according to a report from the Institute of International Education. The drop — reported after a survey of more than 800 colleges about fall 2025 enrollments — has raised concerns about universities' research capacity, tuition revenue and campus diversity, even as it may free spaces for some U.S. applicants.

Key findings

The institute found a 17% year-over-year decline in new international students for fall 2025. For the full 2024–25 academic year, new international enrollments were down 7% versus 2023–24, driven by a 15% decrease among new international graduate students; new international undergraduate enrollments rose about 5%.

California snapshot

The report did not provide a state-by-state breakdown for fall 2025, so the exact impact across California is not fully clear. The University of Southern California, which enrolls more international students than any California institution, reported an overall international student population decline of 3% this fall (including both returning and new students), with about 12,000 international students this semester — roughly 26% of the campus population and about half from China. California statewide international enrollment fell 1.1% for the 2024–25 academic year.

Why enrollments are down

Colleges cited slowed visa processing, travel restrictions and heightened scrutiny around admissions as primary reasons for the decline. Policy shifts under the Trump administration — including proposals and negotiations that would limit international student numbers on certain campuses and more stringent visa practices — were frequently mentioned by institutions surveyed.

“We are confronting major headwinds with what I would say are poor policy decisions that the administration is taking. And that is creating a climate for international students that signals that you’re not welcome here,” said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA, the association for international education and exchange.

Political pressure and campus negotiations

Officials in the administration have said they want to reduce international student enrollment at some institutions to make room for domestic applicants. In recent negotiations with USC, the administration proposed a campus compact that would have capped international undergraduates at 15% and limited any one-country share to 5%; USC rejected the offer. Separately, settlement talks with UCLA have included proposals to screen out applicants deemed likely to cause disruptions, part of broader accusations and negotiations concerning antisemitism and civil rights at that campus.

Campus perspectives and impact

University leaders and scholars say international students are central to research — especially in STEM fields — and to campus life. Julie Posselt, a professor of education at USC, emphasized that international graduate students are integral to research functions at major universities. Stett Holbrook, a University of California spokesperson, highlighted the cultural and intellectual contributions international students bring to campuses.

Students also spoke to opportunity: Freya Vijay, a 20-year-old third-year business administration student from Canada at USC, said she chose the U.S. for career and networking reasons and hopes that studying in the U.S. remains an option for future international applicants.

Financial incentives

Beyond research, tuition revenue is a major incentive for recruiting international students. University of California campuses charge out-of-state and international undergraduates significantly higher tuition than in-state students; for 2026–27, new nonresident undergraduates at UC will pay nearly $52,000, more than three times the in-state rate. Nonresident graduate students also generally pay higher fees. While UC adopted a nonresident cap policy in 2017, nonresident tuition remains an important revenue source for system operations.

Why it matters

The reduction in new international students could affect laboratory staffing, grant-supported research, classroom diversity and university budgets. At the same time, some policymakers view reduced international enrollment as a way to expand access for domestic students — a framing that has intensified debates about higher education priorities and national immigration policy.

Outlook

Analysts expect universities to continue recruiting international students because of their role in research and institutional finances, though enrollment trends will depend on visa processing, policy changes and diplomatic relations. As President Donald Trump noted in a Nov. 10 interview, colleges could face serious financial strain without international students; university officials and educators continue to argue for policies that balance national concerns with the benefits international students bring to campuses and communities.

Sources: Institute of International Education data and interviews with university spokespeople, education experts and international students.