LOS ANGELES:- New international undergraduate enrollment at U.S. colleges and universities has fallen by an average of 20 percent this spring, according to a study released by a coalition of education organizations, indicating that the Trump administration’s crackdown on higher education and immigration policies are having a direct impact on the U.S. education sector.
The report, released recently by organizations including the American Association for International Education (NAFSA), is based on a survey of 149 U.S. educational institutions. Of those surveyed, 62 percent said they had seen a decrease in the number of international students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels compared to the spring semester of 2025.
The report says that international student enrollment has declined even more sharply at the postgraduate level, with an average decrease of 24 percent in the number of students at that level.
International students are a significant source of income for American universities. They often pay full tuition, making them a significant contributor to university revenues. International students are becoming increasingly important as a source of income for universities, especially as the student population in the United States continues to decline.
But the Trump administration has been tightening its grip on foreign student admissions as part of its broader policy to restructure the higher education system and further restrict immigration pathways. The study also found that the policy is starting to have an impact.
Although relatively few students begin their studies in the spring semester, the enrollment trend during this period is seen as a harbinger of the upcoming fall semester, where enrollment numbers are expected to be much higher.
If the number of international students in the fall semester also drops by about 20 percent, some universities and colleges could face serious budget shortfalls, the study warns.
The report notes that a turning point for American educational institutions came last spring, when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested and detained dozens of foreign students.
Some students were detained on campus or in dormitories, and thousands of students had their legal resident status revoked.
Although the administration successfully challenged the status of many students in court, the report said the incident created long-term fear and uncertainty among the international student community.
Overall international student enrollment in the United States fell 1.4 percent last fall from the previous year. But many students who were starting at that time had already begun the application process before the White House implemented its tougher policy.
Since March, ICE has been increasing its surveillance and crackdown on foreign students. Then, in May, the U.S. State Department temporarily suspended the student visa interview process in preparation for the implementation of a new, stricter review policy.
NAFSA Executive Director Fanta Ale said the survey results indicate a more serious decline in the upcoming fall semester.
He said international students face lengthy visa processes even under normal circumstances. With many students applying a year or more before their studies begin, the full impact of last year’s uncertainty and policy changes is likely to be more pronounced in the next cohort.