A new US State Department–funded report has revealed that the majority of American colleges are witnessing a significant decline in Indian student enrollment for the 2024–25 academic year. According to the “Open Doors” report by the Institute of International Education, US universities reported a 10% drop in graduate enrollment from India and a 17% fall in overall international student enrollment for the fall of 2025.
The findings, based on data from 825 institutions, show that over 61% of US colleges recorded lower Indian student enrollment for the fall 2025 semester. More than 96% of institutions blamed visa application challenges as the primary reason for the decline, followed by increasing travel restrictions imposed by US authorities.
Despite the fall, the report notes that India remained the largest source of international students in the US in 2024–25, accounting for nearly half of all graduate students and about one-third of the total foreign student population. While undergraduate numbers saw growth, graduate enrollment from India fell by 10%.
The report also highlights growing concerns from US universities regarding the policy direction of the Trump administration. In recent months, federal agencies have intensified scrutiny of international students, leading to added uncertainty among applicants.
The US Department of Labour has opened over 170 investigations into alleged H-1B visa abuses, while the White House has backed a controversial proposal to introduce a $100,000 application fee for H-1B filings — a key post-study route for global talent.
Defending the move, White House Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told IANS:
“The $100,000 payment required to supplement new H1-B visa applications is a significant first step to stop abuses of the system and ensure American workers are no longer replaced by lower-paid foreign labour.”
Meanwhile, conservative lawmakers have advanced bills to drastically scale back or even eliminate the H-1B program entirely. Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene renewed her call on X to ban H-1B visas in all sectors except medicine, arguing that restricting foreign labour would improve job availability and housing access for Americans.
Adding to the situation, the US State Department has revoked more than 6,000 student visas since January, further impacting international enrollment numbers.
International students currently make up about 6% of the US higher education population and contribute nearly $55 billion to the American economy. Their presence supports over 355,000 jobs, according to the US Department of Commerce — a contribution universities fear may shrink if current trends continue.
