Niagara University Sees 45% Drop in International Student Enrollment

(NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK) Niagara University is confronting a steep 45% drop in international students as of 2025, a contraction driven by policy shifts, visa backlogs, and rising competition across the higher education market.

The change is most visible in the decline of Canadian students, who for years formed a large share of the school’s non‑U.S. population. University data previously showed 661 international students, including 447 undergraduates, in a student body of about 3,544, with Canadians accounting for roughly 44.2% of the international cohort and 8.2% of total enrollment.

Recent figures suggest the overall headcount of non‑resident aliens in 2024—692 among 2,631 full‑time undergraduates—didn’t translate into proportional stability. Instead, the decline appears sharper in new admits and specific nationalities, especially Canadian students, resulting in a meaningful percentage downturn even when some categories saw small numerical gains.

Causes: policy, procedures, and competition

Administrators and immigration advisers say the slide reflects a complex mix of factors.

The U.S. student visa process remains demanding for first‑time F‑1 applicants—from securing a Certificate of Eligibility (Form I‑20), paying the $350 SEVIS fee, and scheduling a consular interview, to meeting English‑language thresholds that exceed minimums at some competing schools.

Although Canadians are exempt from the visa stamp, they still need to carry an I‑20 and pay the SEVIS fee at the border. At the same time, Canada’s new rules—effective January 22, 2025—added a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) requirement for certain master’s programs north of the border. That change has introduced more hurdles for students weighing cross‑border study options that include Canadian campuses affiliated with the university.

Admissions process pain points

International applicants often plan months ahead, and delays at any step can upend a plan.

• Applicants needing F‑1 status must receive a school‑issued Form I‑20 confirming admission and funding.
• They then pay the $350 SEVIS fee and book a visa interview—steps that can stretch timelines and prompt students to change course if appointments are scarce or travel costs rise.
• Increased document scrutiny at times leads to 221(g) administrative processing or repeat consulate visits.

Key reference links:
– The SEVIS fee is $350 for F‑1 applicants. Guidance and payment are available at https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901.
– Information about the Form I‑20 is available from DHS at https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/form-i-20.

English requirements and conditional admission limits

Niagara’s English proficiency expectations shape admissions outcomes:

• For undergraduates: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 79 (minimums).
• The university offers conditional admission with extra language training for applicants who fall short.

Important constraint:
– The school does not issue Form I‑20 documents for conditional admits. Without an I‑20, students cannot pay the SEVIS fee or complete the F‑1 visa process. Some applicants therefore opt for institutions that issue immigration documents immediately via bridge programs.

Cross‑border effects and Canada’s PAL rule

Canada’s PAL requirement is not a U.S. rule but still affects choices for students comparing programs on both sides of the border. Added paperwork and wait times for Canadian master’s study—especially in places like Ontario—may change decisions for students who otherwise might have chosen Niagara.

For a campus minutes from the Canadian border, these twin headwinds—a tighter U.S. process for non‑Canadian nationals and fresh Canadian paperwork for graduate programs—can tilt the enrollment balance.

University response and regional context

University officials have not issued a recent public statement directly addressing the exact 45% drop, but international admissions staff have expanded hands‑on support.

Advisors are encouraging early applications to reduce the risk of missing visa interviews and consular windows. The school is emphasizing small class sizes, advising access, and affordability.

Typical application deadlines:
– Fall: July 15
– Spring: December 1

These timelines reflect practical visa processing limits rather than purely academic scheduling.

Market pressures

Analysis by VisaVerge.com notes that visa appointment delays and higher scrutiny continue to affect mid‑sized universities like Niagara, which may lack the brand reach or scholarship funds to offset hesitation among price‑sensitive families abroad.

Other market factors:
– U.S. institution tuition ranges roughly $19,000 to $58,000 per year, with varied aid.
– Currency swings and rising living costs make relatively small price differences influential.
– Programs relying on cross‑border mobility feel immediate impact—historically, Canadians formed nearly half of Niagara’s international students.

Although Canadians don’t need a visa stamp, they must still pay SEVIS and present an I‑20 and financial/academic documentation at the border. Many do so without issue, but the data show their numbers slipping due to program availability at home, cost comparisons, and post‑pandemic shifts in study plans.

Human examples behind the numbers

Stakeholders emphasize individual cases that add up:

• A family in India might secure admission by April but struggle to find a June consular slot.
• A student in Vietnam may meet English thresholds but face extra review due to family visa history.
• A Canadian applicant may choose a late offer from a Toronto‑area university that promises clearer co‑op pathways.

Each case is different; the cumulative effect is the 45% drop the university seeks to reverse.

What students can do now

Students still value Niagara’s setting, internship access, and border proximity. The following practical steps improve the odds of arriving on time:

• Apply as early as possible. Aim to submit a complete application well before the July 15 (fall) and December 1 (spring) deadlines.
• Prepare strong financial documentation. Consular officers expect bank statements, scholarship letters, and sponsor affidavits covering tuition and living costs for at least the first year.
• Meet English benchmarks on the first try. Plan test dates so scores arrive before review; book retakes early if needed.
• Avoid conditional admission if you need a visa. Since the university does not issue an I‑20 to conditional admits, consider completing language training first or selecting a program where you already meet requirements.

Track SEVIS and visa steps in sequence:
1) Receive Form I‑20
2) Pay the $350 SEVIS fee at https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901
3) Complete the DS‑160 and schedule the consular interview
4) Bring the I‑20, proof of fee payment, and financial documents to the appointment

For Canadian applicants:
– Carry an I‑20 and SEVIS receipt to the port of entry. You won’t need a visa stamp, but you do need to show status eligibility when requesting admission to study.

Direct help and resources:
– International Admissions email: [email protected]
– Admissions hub: https://www.niagara.edu/admissions/international-admissions/

Outlook and key takeaways

Policy watchers say the outlook depends largely on two factors:

• Whether U.S. student visa operations can keep pace with demand, especially in countries with scarce interview slots during peak months.
• Whether Canadian processing and the new PAL rule stabilize or become clearer for master’s applicants.

An easing in either domain—faster U.S. appointments or clearer Canadian processing—could help stabilize numbers. Meanwhile, Niagara is focusing on what it can control: recruiting earlier, clarifying English requirements, and guiding students through paperwork.

Families choosing between Niagara and larger state schools will weigh:
– Which campus issues the I‑20 faster
– Which program best matches career goals
– Level of on‑arrival support
– Internship networks (Western New York vs. Greater Toronto Area)
– Cost, time to degree, and work authorization pathways

While these questions go beyond immigration, the visa pathway often decides the outcome.

For current applicants, three points bear repeating:

• The 45% drop signals pressure points in admissions and visas; it does not mean programs are closing.
• Meeting the school’s English and financial standards on first review shortens the path to an I‑20 and reduces last‑minute delays.
• Rely on official resources (government pages for SEVIS and I‑20 instructions, and the university’s admissions page) for accurate instructions and deadlines.

The university’s location—just miles from the Canadian border—remains an asset but also a focal point for policy friction, from consular queues to the PAL rule. The situation is not a single cause producing a single outcome; rather, it’s a chain of small barriers that together nudge students toward or away from enrollment.

If Niagara can speed I‑20 issuance, keep advising lines open, and clearly frame costs, it may regain momentum even if external conditions improve slowly. For many families abroad—and for Canadian students just across the river—the question is not whether a U.S. degree 🇺🇸 is worth it, but whether they can complete all the steps on time. In 2025, that timing is often the difference between a seat in class and a deferred dream.