International Students in the United States
July 24, 2025
Spotlight
By Jeanne Batalova
Globally, the United States has long been the top destination for international students, with more than 1.1 million enrolled in U.S. higher education during the 2023-24 academic year—the largest single-country enrollment number on record. The United States hosted approximately 16 percent of the world's 6.9 million international students that year, well ahead of other major destinations.
However, the United States' dominance in this sector has been declining over the past decade. The U.S. share of global international students has dropped from about 20 percent of the worldwide total of 4.5 million students in 2013-14. Several factors have contributed to this decline, including rising U.S. higher education costs, expanded study opportunities in other countries, and student visa delays and denials, compounded by limited embassy access and global travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the Trump administration’s heightened scrutiny of international students, attempts to block Harvard’s ability to enroll foreign students, revocation of some student visas, and a ban or restriction on visas for nationals from 19 countries, it remains to be seen how these actions might affect future enrollment rates. While the number of new foreign students has fluctuated over the past decade, the new restrictions may create chilling effects on future international student flows to the United States.
The administration has also discussed eliminating Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows students to work in their field of study postgraduation for 12-36 months (depending on the field); it also is considering limiting the duration of student and exchange visitor visas. These changes and proposals have reduced some eligibility and enrollment, as well as introduced new uncertainty for university administrators and college students alike.
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/international-students-united-states
