At one of the busiest periods for new enrollments, August 2025 saw a significant 19% decrease in international student arrivals to the US as compared to the same month the year before. Colleges around the country begin their fall semesters at the same time as this postponement.
The drop was most pronounced among students from Asia, whose arrivals decreased by 24%, with India seeing a dramatic 45% fall - the steepest decline among all countries. Student numbers from Africa were down 33%, while arrivals from the Middle East dropped by 17%.
Numerous variables, including more stringent visa processing, postponed interview dates, and increased security vetting procedures including social media checks, are blamed for the decline, according to experts. It is thought that administrative backlogs in the crucial pre-semester months of May and June significantly hampered the issuing of international student visas.
Given that many American colleges rely significantly on tuition income from overseas, education professionals caution that this declining trend may have an impact on their finances. If the difficulties continue, it might also affect America's standing as a top international student destination.