US international student enrollment projected to fall 10 percent

International student enrollment in the United States is projected to decrease by approximately 9.5 percent this school year, according to reports from NAFSA: Association of International Educators and JB International. This decline could result in the loss of up to 111,000 students, potentially depriving local economies of $3.4 billion in spending and impacting more than 39,000 jobs.

The projected downturn is attributed to restrictive immigration policies under the Trump administration, including travel bans and new visa restrictions. Specifically, the Department of Homeland Security recently introduced a rule limiting many foreign students and researchers to a four-year stay to target “forever students.”

Data indicates significant shifts in enrollment trends. International applications via the Common App fell by 9 percent for the 2026-2027 school year, with notable decreases from students in Ghana, Nigeria, and India. Graduate-level enrollment is particularly affected; international doctoral program applications have seen a 21 percent drop, driven by uncertainty regarding federal research funding and visa bottlenecks.