(UNITED STATES) US colleges are reporting a sharp downturn in new Indian student enrollment for the 2025‑26 academic year, raising fresh worries about visa processing hurdles and tougher immigration rules that followed policy shifts under President Trump. After several years of rapid growth, preliminary campus data show far fewer Indian students are set to arrive in fall 2025, even though the overall Indian student population in the United States 🇺🇸 has just reached a record high.
Admissions officers, international recruiters, and Indian families now find themselves caught between strong demand for US degrees and a policy climate that makes future study plans less certain.
National enrollment snapshot
The Institute of International Education’s Open Doors 2025 Report outlines a complex picture:
- For the 2024‑25 academic year, 363,019 Indian students were enrolled at US institutions — a 10 percent increase from the year before.
- Despite that record, preliminary data for fall 2025 show new international student enrollments fell 17 percent overall, with colleges indicating Indian students are driving much of the decline.
- This is the first major fall in Indian enrollments since 2020, when the pandemic and travel bans reduced global mobility.
Institutional survey findings
A survey of 825 US institutions highlights the breadth of the slowdown:
- 61 percent reported a drop in Indian student enrollment for fall 2025.
- 39 percent said Indian numbers were stable or growing.
- University officials note this shift differs from 2020 because campuses are fully open, but the policy environment around visas and immigration has grown more demanding.
Graduate vs. undergraduate trends
The decline is not uniform across program levels:
- Graduate‑level enrollments from India fell 15 percent in the latest cycle.
- Undergraduate enrollments from India grew 5 percent.
This split worries research universities that depend on Indian master’s and PhD students for teaching, lab work, and research output. It suggests students considering advanced degrees are more cautious when visa rules tighten and long‑term prospects feel uncertain.
Visa-related barriers driving the change
Colleges point to visa issues as central to the downturn:
- Among institutions reporting fewer new international students, 96 percent cited visa application problems as a factor.
- 68 percent highlighted travel restrictions — especially for students needing connecting flights and managing changing transit rules.
- A key metric: a 33.2 percent drop in F‑category visas issued to Indian students in fiscal year 2024 compared with 2023. The F visa is the standard nonimmigrant visa for full‑time academic students.
Universities report long waits for interview slots, requests for extra documents, and last‑minute refusals that derail travel plans.
New policy requirements (2025) — what changes and when
Several new requirements coming into force in 2025 are increasing concern for applicants and institutions.
Social media requirement — effective June 23, 2025
- Applicants in the F, M, and J visa categories must provide a list of social media usernames used in the past five years and make accounts available for review.
- Consular officers may check posts, comments, and older discussions as part of security screening.
- Student advisers say many Indian applicants worry about how casual remarks, political opinions, or jokes might be interpreted.
Critics warn the rule could discourage open expression and make the visa process feel intrusive; US officials say it helps protect national security.
Visa Integrity Fee — effective October 1, 2025
- Most Indian nationals applying for US visas will pay a $250 “Visa Integrity Fee.”
- Applies to:
- Students and dependents: F‑1, F‑2
- Exchange visitors: J‑1, J‑2
- Skilled workers and families: H‑1B, H‑4
- Many short‑term visitors: B1/B2
This adds another expense for families already budgeting for test fees, tuition deposits, SEVIS fees, and travel costs.
Interview rule changes — effective September 2, 2025 and October 1, 2025
- From September 2, 2025, many applicants who previously qualified for interview waivers will need an in‑person interview at a US consulate.
- From October 1, 2025, face‑to‑face interviews become the default for nearly all nonimmigrant visa categories, except children under 14 and adults over 79.
Practical impact: applicants may need to travel long distances to consular posts, take time off work, or reschedule exams. Universities worry this will particularly affect students returning for internships, Optional Practical Training, or additional degrees.
Wider international application trends (through Nov 1, 2025)
- Overall international student applications to US institutions fell 9 percent.
- India: 14 percent decline — its first drop since 2020.
- China: 1 percent dip.
- Africa: 18 percent fall.
Chinese enrollments also declined: US campuses hosted 265,919 Chinese students in 2024‑25, a 4 percent decrease from the year before. Increased scrutiny of certain Chinese students—highlighted by statements from Secretary of State Marco Rubio—adds to perceptions that study visas can be fragile.
Why US colleges are concerned
Surveys show how institutions value international students:
- 81 percent said the viewpoints international students bring are a core reason to recruit them.
- 60 percent cited the financial role international students play via tuition payments and local spending.
Universities warn that continued declines in Indian enrollment could lead to:
- Reduced course offerings
- Less research activity
- Fewer opportunities for domestic students to learn alongside peers from a major global economy
Implications for Indian students and families
Many Indian students still view US degrees as strong pathways to global careers in technology, healthcare, and research. But families now must weigh:
- Stricter screening and new documentation requirements
- Additional fees (including the $250 Visa Integrity Fee)
- Longer processing times and possible sudden rule changes while a student is abroad
Some prospective students may favor alternative destinations (Canada 🇨🇦, the UK, Australia) where study‑to‑work routes or visa conditions are perceived as clearer or more stable.
US officials maintain that security checks and tighter visa processing are necessary to protect national security and the integrity of the immigration system.
Official guidance and resources
The US government points applicants to publicly available guidance, for example the State Department’s student visa page: travel.state.gov.
Key takeaway
If current patterns hold, the fall in new Indian student enrollment in 2025‑26 could mark the start of a longer period in which enthusiasm for US education remains high, but more Indian students decide that the risks and costs of the American visa process are simply too great.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
US colleges are seeing a notable decline in new Indian student enrollment for fall 2025 amid visa processing problems and tougher 2025 rules. While the Indian student population hit a record 363,019 in 2024‑25, preliminary new enrollments fell 17% overall with Indian applicants central to the decline. Graduate enrollments fell 15% while undergraduates rose 5%. New requirements—social media checks, a $250 Visa Integrity Fee, and expanded interviews—are adding costs and delays, pushing some families toward alternate study destinations.
