International graduate enrollment declines

Federal actions to restrict immigration have impacted the decisions of many international students to attend U.S. colleges and universities this fall, with some institutions reporting significant declines in international student enrollment.

The latest data from the Department of Homeland Security’s Student Exchange and Visitor Information System for October shows an overall decrease of 1% in SEVIS data for all international students in the United States, which includes all students on F-1 and M-1 visas, including those in elementary and secondary schools, language training, flight school and other vocational programs.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, bachelor’s degree enrollment by international students fell by 1% from October 2024 to October 2025; master’s degree enrollment also fell by 2%. In October 2025, there were 7% more international students in associate degree programs than in the previous year, and 2% more international doctoral students.

Campus-level data paints a more compelling picture; one Inside higher education An analysis of self-reported graduate international student enrollment at nine colleges and universities found an average year-over-year decline of 29%.

Several groups, including NAFSA, an association of international educators, have released projections about how international student enrollment will impact college access and financial health. NAFSA expects a 15% decline across the industry, with an even steeper decline for master’s degree programs.

“master [programs] It was a big hit. NAFSA CEO Fanta Aw said in an interview on September 19: “In addition to master’s courses being hit, courses such as computer science and STEM have also been the most affected.” Inside higher education.

For example, master’s degree enrollment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is down 22% from fall 2024. Enrollment in the program fell just 1% compared with the previous year, according to university data.

While more selective or elite institutions have mostly experienced declines in undergraduate international student enrollment — reporting little change in enrollment this fall, Au said graduate enrollment is declining everywhere.

For example, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania reports that international students make up 26 percent of its incoming MBA program, down 5 percentage points from the previous year. poet and quant (poet and quant Also owned by Times Higher Education, Inside higher educationparent company). At Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, 47% of the class of 2024 is from other countries, but that number dropped to 38% this fall.

Since master’s degree programs are shorter than undergraduate programs, averaging two years, Aw expects a steeper decline in college degrees starting in 2024 and ending in the fall of 2026.

“The current environment is [graduate] “If they don’t apply, you can’t get in,” Aw said.

Among the universities in the data set, Northwest Missouri State University has seen the largest year-over-year decline in graduate enrollment, from 557 international students in fall 2024 to 125 in fall 2025. In April, Northwest Missouri State University reported that 43 of its international students had had their SEVIS status revoked; 38 of them were receiving optional practical training.

At the time, Northwest Missouri State encouraged students who lost SEVIS status to leave the U.S. immediately “to avoid accruing unlawful presence,” according to a memo from President Lance Tatum posted by Fox 4 Kansas City. The university declined to comment for this article.

Nationally, international students make up 22% of full-time graduate students, according to the Integrated Higher Education Data System. International students typically pay higher tuition than their domestic peers, and some universities rely on international students to boost enrollment in graduate programs.

Big changes in enrollment have had an impact on some universities’ budgets.

Foreign graduate enrollment at Georgetown University fell by 20 percent, which was expected, but the drop was larger than expected, according to a memo from Robert M. Groves, the university’s interim president. In April, Georgetown cut $100 million from its budget due to the loss of federal research funding and international student revenue, and Groves said further cuts may be needed in December.

The number of first-year graduate students from other countries at DePaul University in Chicago fell 63% year over year, a steep decline that administrators did not anticipate in this year’s budget.

The sector-wide decline in foreign student numbers has become more pronounced as more universities consolidate fall enrollment.

Inside higher educationPreliminary data found that universities reported an average decline of 13% in international student enrollment. The median year-over-year change was down 9%.

Big changes are happening at small colleges. Bethany Lutheran College in Minnesota has a total student body of 900, with a 50% increase in international students. On the other hand, the University of Hartford in Connecticut lost half its international students and expects to have only 50 students this fall instead of 100.

Community colleges are also feeling the loss of international students. Bellevue College in Washington state, a major destination for two-year international students, reported a 56% year-over-year enrollment drop.

Southeast Missouri State reported a 63% drop in international students, with 494 unable to obtain visas, according to a university statement.