International student arrivals to the US fell by nearly a fifth in August, data shows

The number of international students coming to the US fell by nearly a fifth in August as the new academic year at American universities began, according to federal data.

The decline is the latest sign of the impact on colleges’ international enrollment. trump The administration has intensified the investigation of foreign students.

International visitors arriving in the US on student visas declined 19% in August compared to the same month in 2024, according to preliminary data released by the National Travel and Tourism Office. Numbers also declined in June and July but August is the summer month that usually sees the most international students – 313,138 this year.

As the federal government restricts student visas, industry groups warn a decline in international enrollments threatens school budgets and the standing of American colleges in the world. Although the full extent of the change remains to be seen, the new data suggests a turnaround in international enrollments that were rising again in the US following a decline worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

About 1.1 million international students were in the United States last year — a source of major revenue for tuition-driven colleges. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid, and many students pay full tuition.

Visa challenges and travel restrictions blocked some students

Many students who planned to study in the US could not enter the country due to difficulty in obtaining visas. late May, state Department The schedule of visa interviews for foreign students was put on hold, resuming three weeks later with new rules for checking the social media accounts of visa applicants.

The timing of the pause had the “maximum possible impact” on visa issuance for the fall semester, said Clay Harmon, executive director of the Association of International Enrollment Management, a nonprofit membership association.

A travel ban for 19 countries and other restrictions announced in June by the Trump administration created even more uncertainty for some students. Most of the countries included in the ban were located in Africa, Asia and this middle east,

Federal data shows those regions saw the largest declines in international student arrivals this August, including a 33% decline from Africa, 17% from the Middle East and 24% from Asia — including a 45% decline. IndiaThe country that sends the most students to America

The data includes new as well as returning students, but some who were already in the US avoided traveling out of the country this summer out of fear of problems re-entering.

Sara, a 2022 college graduate in Iran, was planning to come to the US to accept a fully-funded position in the Physical Rehabilitation Sciences PhD at the University of Iowa. Program. Sarah, who spoke on condition of partial anonymity for fear of being targeted, said she had been trying to study in the US for years and had to turn down offers from other programs that did not offer financial aid.

But shortly after his entry this spring, the US halted visa interviews. Then, a travel ban affecting Iran was announced.

Her graduate school admissions were postponed to next year, but Sarah said she has started applying to universities in Germany. She began learning German – now her fourth language – several weeks in advance to prepare.

Students worry about the political climate and costs

Some international students and their families have been wary of the Trump administration’s sweeping crackdown on immigration. In the spring, the federal government stripped thousands of international students of their legal status, causing panic before the Trump administration reversed course. Trump has also called on colleges to reduce their reliance on foreign students and limit international enrollment.

Zeynep Boulus, a higher education consultant in Istanbul, Turkey, said interest in American universities among the families she works with has been declining over the years, largely due to financial reasons and doubts about the value of American degrees. He said, policy changes in America are increasing his concerns.

“I try not to dramatize it too much, but at the same time, I let them know what’s going on and potential obstacles they may face,” Bowles said.

Institutions in other countries have taken advantage of the opportunity to attract students who were headed to the US. An increasing number of Chinese students have chosen to live in Asia, and international applications to universities in the United Kingdom have increased.

Elizabeth Marksteiner, a higher education consultant in Cambridge, England, said she would encourage families looking at American universities to approach the admissions process more carefully. She said student visas have never been guaranteed, but it’s especially important now for families to have a backup plan.

“I think the assumption is that it’s all going to continue as it was before,” Marksteiner said. “My guess is, it’s not.”

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