15% decline in Indian students seeking admission to undergraduate courses in U.S.: Report
A new report indicates a 15% decline in Indian students applying for undergraduate programs in the U.S. for the 2025-26 academic year. This drop is attributed to stricter immigration policies, visa uncertainties, and potential new fees for work-study programs.
Why it matters
The decline suggests that shifting U.S. immigration policies are significantly impacting the international education market and the U.S. economy.
Amid the tightening of immigration policies, the number of Indian students seeking admission to U.S. colleges declined by 15% in 2025-26 over the previous year, according to a report.
A report, representing over 1,100 institutions, released by the Common App, shows that although application volume for undergraduate admission in the upcoming 2026-27 academic year rose overall, the number of international applicants through March 1 fell 10%, the steepest decline on record.
The report by a non-profit organisation recorded a 15% decrease in applicants from India — the top source for international students in the U.S..
India is the largest source of international students in the U.S., with over 3.63 lakh enrolling for different courses in the 2024-25 academic year.
According to the report, international students contributed $41.77 billion to the local economy in the Fall 2025-26. The same number is projected to be 38.37 billion in 2026-27.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in