Indian student applications to US colleges drop 15%: Report
A report indicates that Indian student applications to US colleges have dropped by 15% for the 2025-26 academic year. This decline is attributed to stricter US immigration and visa policies, raising concerns about the economic impact on American institutions.
Why it matters
International students are a major economic driver for US universities, and a decline in enrollment could lead to significant revenue losses.
The tightening of US immigration and visa policies under Donald Trump administration appears to be taking a toll on Indian students hoping to study in the country.The number of Indian students seeking admission to US colleges fell by 15% in 2025-26 compared with the previous year, according to a report by the Common App, a non-profit organisation representing more than 1,100 institutions.The decline comes even as overall undergraduate application numbers for the 2026-27 academic year increased. International applications, however, moved in the opposite direction. Applications from overseas students fell 10% through March 1, the sharpest decline recorded so far.India, which has emerged as the biggest source of international students in the US, saw applications drop by 15%.The trend has also raised concerns about a bigger fall in international student enrolment.
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