(CLEVELAND, OHIO, USA) Faculty leaders at several public universities are sounding alarms after sharp drops in international student enrollment for the 2025 academic year, warning that visa difficulties and restrictive immigration policies are beginning to reshape budgets, classrooms, and the global reach of campuses across the United States 🇺🇸. At Cleveland State University, Northern Illinois University, and George Washington University, Faculty Senates spent recent meetings reviewing data that point to double‑digit or steeper declines and debating how much blame lies with federal rules versus wider geopolitical tensions.
Major enrollment declines by campus
The steepest fall came at Cleveland State University (CSU), where the Faculty Senate was told international enrollment for fall 2025 is down 41% compared with fall 2024. Provost Nigamanth Sridhar said that visa challenges and heated immigration rhetoric are keeping many admitted students from ever reaching campus, even as CSU actually welcomes students from 26 different countries, up from a student body that was largely from India last year.
While CSU has seen a surge in online and remote enrollment, administrators told senators the shortfall of around 400 to 500 students compared with projections will leave a budget hole large enough that incoming freshmen will face a 3% tuition increase starting in fall 2025. Faculty leaders warned that this is likely only the first visible sign of deeper strain if current conditions continue.
Northern Illinois University (NIU) reported a new international student enrollment drop of 40%. Senators were told NIU’s decline is slightly better than estimates for the national average, but still a deep break from pre‑pandemic years when international students supported graduate programs and filled technical courses that can struggle to attract domestic applicants.
At George Washington University (GW) in Washington, D.C., the overall change in international undergraduate enrollment looked small on paper — a 0.5% decrease this year — but that headline masked a dramatic collapse in one key group. Enrollment from China has fallen by nearly 70% between 2019 and 2025, according to campus figures, as students there turn more to Canada, the United Kingdom, and other destinations and report longer waits and tougher questions when applying for U.S. study visas.
Quick summary table of reported declines
| University | Reported change (international enrollment) |
|---|---|
| Cleveland State University | -41% (Fall 2025 vs Fall 2024) |
| Northern Illinois University | -40% (new international students) |
| George Washington University | -0.5% overall; -~70% from China (2019–2025) |
Causes and affected countries
Faculty at all three universities framed the declines as part of a broader national trend linked to:
- Visa processing backlogs
- Trump‑era travel bans and restrictive rules
- Ongoing security checks and shifting political conditions in certain origin countries
Countries mentioned as especially affected by past bans and current visa delays include Afghanistan, Iran, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, and Turkmenistan. Faculty said those added hurdles, combined with uncertainty over future rules, discourage families from committing to U.S. study plans that require years of investment.
GW officials cited what they described as lasting effects from Trump‑era immigration rules and travel bans, along with visa processing backlogs that built up during earlier years and have still not fully cleared. Across campuses, leaders said even small U.S. policy shifts prompt students and advisers to compare timelines and approval rates with other destinations.
“Even small policy shifts in the United States can push applicants toward competing systems seen as more predictable.”
— analysis cited from VisaVerge.com
Note: Preserve original links
– Analysis by VisaVerge.com
– U.S. Department of State guidance for F‑1 and other study visas: official website
(These links are preserved exactly as published.)
Financial and academic consequences
Faculty senates and administrators described several immediate and potential impacts from enrollment shortfalls:
- Budget shortfalls from fewer full‑fee international students
- Tuition increases for incoming classes (e.g., CSU’s 3% hike for fall 2025 freshmen)
- Hiring freezes and postponed capital or lab upgrades
- Larger introductory classes due to staff constraints
- Reductions in support programs and services for existing students
Faculty emphasized the broader roles international students play beyond enrollment figures:
- Mentoring undergraduates
- Conducting research and contributing to labs
- Filling graduate assistantships that support department teaching and research
- Staying to work locally after graduation via employment‑based visa programs (where possible)
At NIU, senators warned that many master’s and doctoral programs in engineering and computer science have long depended on applicants from countries now hit hardest by security‑related checks and limits. At GW, senators worried that the abrupt loss of students from China could reduce language‑exchange groups, limit perspectives in global discussions, and shrink revenue for programs reliant on full‑fee international students.
University responses and limits
Institutions are trying to mitigate the situation through practical steps:
- Strengthening communication with admitted students
- Offering more assistance with visa paperwork
- Expanding virtual welcome events for students who must begin classes online from overseas
- Modeling multiple budget scenarios for 2026 and beyond (best‑case vs. further declines)
However, Faculty Senates repeatedly returned to the limits of what universities can solve when federal procedures remain unpredictable. They stressed that until consular staffing and processing times are reliable, university interventions can only go so far.
Universities report double‑digit drops in international enrollments, leading to budget gaps, tuition hikes, and larger classes, which may affect programs and services beyond admissions.
Federal officials say consular staffing has improved since the pandemic peak, and the U.S. Department of State continues to publish guidance for F‑1 and other study visas on its website, including interview rules and security‑check procedures. Information for students and schools is available through the department’s official website, though Faculty Senates say the real test is how quickly consulates can handle interviews and background checks.
National outlook and policy concerns
Higher‑education associations, including the American Council on Education (ACE), have warned that proposed changes to visa and H‑1B rules could further erode the U.S. appeal. Recent surveys project 30% to 40% drops in international enrollment for the 2025–26 academic year, which aligns with what Faculty Senates are beginning to see on their campuses.
Faculty leaders say choices made in Washington over the next year — from student‑visa guidance to H‑1B rule changes that affect whether graduates can stay and work — will help determine whether the downturn becomes a temporary dip or a more permanent shift.
Key takeaway: Unless federal procedures become more predictable and timely, universities will continue to face growing budget pressures and changing campus communities as international students reconsider the U.S. as a study destination.
For now, professors and students alike say the latest numbers are a warning that the country’s welcome may feel weaker to those looking toward American campuses.
Public universities reported sharp international enrollment declines for 2025, notably a 41% drop at Cleveland State and 40% at Northern Illinois. GW flagged a near‑70% fall in students from China since 2019. Administrators blame visa backlogs, restrictive rules and security checks. Immediate impacts include budget shortfalls, a 3% tuition hike at CSU, hiring freezes and larger classes. Campuses are boosting outreach and virtual options but say federal unpredictability limits mitigation.
