- US student visa arrivals dropped 19 per cent year-on-year in August to 313,000.
- Indian student arrivals plunged 45 per cent, while Chinese arrivals fell 12 per cent.
- Thirteen Asian source markets reported declines, with Asia overall down 24 per cent.
- Experts warn fewer students will hurt research, jobs, and US competitiveness.
Many universities in the US may lose up to $7 billion this fall if enrollment drops 40 per cent. The student visa arrivals to the United States have fallen to their lowest level in four years, with a dramatic 45 per cent drop from India leading the decline. According to data from the International Trade Administration, a little over 313,000 foreign students arrived in the US in August, down 19% from a year earlier. This marks the fifth straight month of falling numbers and the weakest August since 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The slowdown is most visible in Asia. Only 191,000 students from Asia arrived in August, a 24 per cent decline compared to last year. Arrivals from India fell by nearly half, while students from China dropped 12 per cent. Thirteen major Asian markets, including Japan and Vietnam, also saw year-on-year decreases.
“If the trends continue, the impact will be significant not only for campuses and their students—both international and American—but for the economy overall,” said Zuzana Cepla Wootson, deputy director of federal policy at the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. She warned that fewer international students would mean fewer contributions to US leadership in science, technology, and research, ultimately making the US less competitive.
The timing comes as President Donald Trump has doubled down on immigration reforms, including a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications announced last week. The move has raised concerns about how it might further discourage international students who hope to stay and work in the US after graduation.
Universities are bracing for an even bigger drop in September. Early estimates suggest new international enrollment could fall by up to 40 per cent this autumn, costing universities an estimated $7 billion in lost revenue. According to NAFSA, international students contributed nearly $44 billion to the US economy in 2023–24 and supported 400,000 jobs. For every three international students, one American job is created — a figure now at risk if the decline continues.
