A sharp 17% drop in new international student enrolments for the 2025–26 cycle has raised concerns among US colleges, even as Indian students continued to drive record growth across key academic and work-based categories. The latest Open Doors data shows that total international student numbers in the US rose 5% to 1,177,766 in 2024–25, highlighting a widening gap between overall growth and the weakening new-student pipeline.
India further strengthened its position as the largest source of international students. With 363,019 students in 2024–25—a 10% year-on-year increase—India now represents nearly one-third of all foreign students in the US. Undergraduate enrolments rose to 40,135, graduate numbers reached 177,892, and participation in Optional Practical Training (OPT) surged to 143,740, marking a remarkable 47.3% annual jump.
This rise contrasts sharply with broader trends: new international student enrolments fell 7.2%, dropping from 298,705 to 277,118. Institutions predominantly attributed the decline to visa-related challenges, with 96% citing delays, denials, and uncertainty. Travel restrictions were highlighted by 68% of institutions as a contributing factor.
Despite the slowdown in new enrolments, overall numbers continue to climb, rising from 1,126,690 in 2023–24 to 1,177,766 in 2024–25. Over the past four years, the US has added more than 230,000 international students, reversing pandemic-era declines. International students now make up 6.1% of the total US higher education population.
State-level data points to broad stability, with 45 states recording growth. Texas (+8.4%), Illinois (+7%), and Missouri (+11.3%) saw especially strong gains. California, New York, Massachusetts, Texas, and Illinois remain the top host states—and key destinations for Indian students.
While India posted strong double-digit growth, Chinese enrolments fell 4.1% to 265,919, marking the third consecutive year of decline. Other emerging markets, including Nepal (+48.7%), Vietnam (+15.9%), and Bangladesh (+17.9%), recorded substantial increases, signalling shifting global mobility patterns.
STEM fields continue to dominate international interest, with enrolments in math and computer science growing 8.7%, engineering 3.3%, and health professions 10.4%. Together, STEM disciplines represent nearly 44% of all international student enrolments.
OPT has become a cornerstone of US competitiveness. The Fall 2025 Snapshot report noted that institutions increasingly depend on OPT to attract and retain global talent. Nearly 77% of schools cited OPT as essential for students seeking practical experience, 70% highlighted its importance for US industry, and more than 80% warned that students may look to other countries if access to OPT diminishes. Overall participation in OPT rose to 294,253 in 2024–25, a 21.2% increase, making it the single largest category of international student presence.
Despite evolving policies, the IIE reiterated that the US remains the world’s leading destination for international education. “International students come to every state. And 45 states experienced increases in their international student totals in 2024–25,” said Mirka Martel, head of research at IIE.
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