According to a Xinhua report, a study released on Nov. 17 by the American Institute of International Education indicates that the number of newly enrolled international students in U.S. higher education institutions has decreased by 17% this fall, influenced by the Trump administration's policies tightening international student visas.
The report, titled "2025 Fall International Student Enrollment Snapshot," surveyed 825 U.S. higher education institutions. Statistical data reveal that 57% of these institutions experienced a decline in new international student enrollment, with 96% of them citing visa-related issues as the primary reason. Many institutions believe that factors such as the earlier suspension of student visa interviews in the U.S. and excessively long visa waiting times have made it difficult for international students to obtain visas promptly.
The report also notes that most surveyed institutions reported a decrease in the number of students from India. India is one of the largest source countries of international students for American universities.
According to relevant statistics, there are approximately 1.2 million international students in the United States during the 2024-2025 academic year. Tuition fees paid by international students constitute a significant revenue source for the U.S. higher education industry.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has introduced a series of stringent measures targeting U.S. universities and international students, including threats to cut academic research funding for higher education institutions, increased scrutiny of international students, and even the revocation of student visas.
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