International enrollment in American higher ed declined in 2025: new data

Just a quick post to note new enrollment data: specifically, there’s new research concerning international students attending American colleges and universities.  It’s not good.

The Department of State posted new numbers about student visas over the past academic year. Inside Higher Ed found that the government issued 23% fewer visas in 2025 than in 2024.

Two leading sending nations saw major drops: “China and India, historically the two countries that send the most students to the U.S., both saw significant drops in visa issuances—28 percent and 56.6 percent, respectively.”  Additionally, and unsurprisingly, “Iran… saw a greater than 90 percent dip compared to 2024, when over 3,000 student visas were issued to Iranians.”

Why this matters: first, reducing the number of international students depresses the global experience many American campuses value. It means fewer cross-cultural connections, fewer opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to learn globally.  Second, it represents a financial hit to colleges and universities, as international students often pay full price or something more.

 

(I tried adding an IHE chart but WordPress decided not to allow me to upload images now. Weird.)