US universities reported that foreign undergraduate new-student enrollment fell an average 20% this spring from a year earlier, according to a survey of 149 schools released on May 12. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
About 62% of the schools said international enrollment fell in both undergraduate and graduate programs compared with spring 2025, and 84% blamed restrictive government policy as the main reason. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
More than one-third of respondents warned that fewer international students could force budget cuts or cause severe financial pressure. International students often pay full tuition and are a key source of revenue for US universities. [1, 3, 4, 5, 6]
The reporting tied the drop to tighter Trump administration policies on foreign student entry and visas. It also pointed to last spring, when ICE detained dozens of foreign students and revoked the legal status of thousands; most later won back their status through court challenges. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
The pressure on campuses followed a series of restrictions in 2025. ICE began targeting students in March, the State Department paused visa interviews in May during the peak application season, and in June it introduced a stricter review system. [3, 4, 6]
Those steps came after US student visa issuances fell 36% last summer. Overall international student enrollment in the US then dropped 1.4% in the autumn, according to the reporting. [1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 6]
The broader pattern was not limited to the US. Reporting said Canada, Australia and Britain also recorded declines in international enrollment after tighter immigration rules, while some universities in Europe and Asia saw increases. [1, 3, 4, 6]
The latest survey was reported by multiple outlets on May 12. [1, 4, 5, 6]
