International Student Enrolment in US Falls as Graduate Numbers Drop
International student enrolment in the United States declined this autumn, driven by a sharp fall in graduate admissions, according to new data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
International graduate enrolments fell by 5.9 percent, or about 10,000 students, compared with the previous year. This ended several years of growth in this segment. Undergraduate enrolments from overseas increased by 3.2 percent, adding roughly 5,000 students, but this rise was significantly slower than in the previous autumn.
The decline was smaller than many sector forecasts had suggested. Projections issued late last year by NAFSA, the Association of Foreign Educators, and JB International had anticipated a fall of up to 17 percent in new international enrolments for autumn 2025. Some early estimates had warned of a much steeper drop. While the current figures indicate a less severe contraction, they still represent a setback for universities that depend on international students.
The Open Doors 2025 Report presents a mixed picture. It recorded nearly 1.2 million international students enrolled in US higher education during the 2024–25 academic year, an increase of 5 percent year on year. However, the number of new international students fell by 7 percent to 277,118, showing that overall growth was sustained mainly by continuing students.
Total postsecondary enrolment across the United States reached 19.4 million this autumn, up 1 percent from 19.2 million a year earlier. Undergraduate enrolments rose by 1.2 per cent to 16.2 million. Graduate enrolments were broadly stable at 3.2 million, edging down by 0.3 percent.
Within graduate education, trends varied by programme and institution type. Master’s programmes recorded a 1.2 percent decline, equivalent to 24,000 fewer students. Private non-profit universities were most affected, reporting a 0.9 percent fall in graduate enrolments, or 12,000 students. Public universities saw a small increase of around 1,000 students, while private for-profit institutions reported growth of about 2,000.
This slowdown followed a period of rapid expansion between 2020 and 2024, when graduate enrolments increased by more than 50 percent. Analysts attribute much of the decline in international graduate enrolments to immigration policy.
Measures introduced under the Trump administration, including the suspension of visa interviews, the cancellation of some existing visas, and proposals to restrict the Optional Practical Training programme, created uncertainty for prospective students. Although visa processing resumed in June last year, additional requirements, such as mandatory disclosure of social media accounts, have added further obstacles.
The effects of these policies became evident in the 2024–25 academic year and intensified in autumn 2025. International students play a significant role in university finances and research activity, often paying higher tuition fees and contributing to academic output.
