International Student Applications Drop at 60% of US Colleges

The survey, conducted by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, polled more than 250 institutions and found that 60% experienced a drop in international applications for the upcoming academic year. Among those, nearly a third saw declines of more than 10%.

College officials attribute the downturn to a combination of factors, including restrictive immigration policies, tightened post-graduation work restrictions, and a surge in visa denials. The findings echo a broader trend of slowing international enrollment, which has been a key revenue source for many universities.

The survey also revealed that the declines were most pronounced among graduate programs and in STEM fields, where international students have historically been overrepresented. Some institutions reported that visa denial rates for certain countries, particularly those in Africa and the Middle East, have reached as high as 50%.

In response, several colleges have stepped up efforts to recruit students from other regions, such as Latin America and Southeast Asia, and are expanding online and hybrid programs to reach students who cannot travel. However, administrators warn that the losses may be difficult to reverse, as international students often make multi-year decisions based on perceived stability and openness.

The survey's release comes as the Biden administration has signaled a more welcoming tone on immigration, but visa processing delays and policy uncertainty continue to weigh on prospective students. College officials say they are closely monitoring the situation and hope for policy changes that could restore growth in international enrollment.