Even after admitting international students this year, US institutions are offering them the opportunity to enroll in classes the next year. A student must apply to and be accepted by a US institution of higher education certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). After acceptance, the student will receive a Form I-20 from the international student office, which records their information in the SEVIS database.
However, since the start of 2025, these visa-related concerns have been at the forefront.
Concerns about the visa application process, such as visa delays and denials, have long been the leading factor noted by institutions for enrollment declines. Visa application concerns (96%) and travel restrictions (68%) were the two major factors that led to U.S. institutions reporting declines in new enrollments, according to a study conducted by International Educational Exchange and ten partner higher education associations.
If denied a student F-1 visa, the applicant is notified of the section of law that applies. The two most important sections are – section 221(g) and section 214(b).
International Student Deferrals
US colleges have been providing options to international students admitted to their programs, to join the following year’s classes. This is called international student deferrals, where students do not lose the chance to study in the US if they are unable to arrive in the United States for their academic studies.
Nearly three-quarters (72%) of institutions were found to be offering international student deferrals to spring 2026, and more than half (56%) are providing deferrals to fall 2026, finds the report.
In comparison to the prior year’s snapshot, there was a 39% increase in deferrals reported. Additionally, more than one-third (37%) of institutions indicated enrollment flexibility through options such as allowing students to begin online for the first term or providing a delayed start date for the fall term.
Overall, the international student totals have declined by 1% in the 2025-26 academic year.
Total number of international students
In the 2025-26 academic year, reporting colleges and universities noted a 1% decline in the total number of international students, including enrolled and Optional Practical Training (OPT) students.
Amidst Trump’s immigration crackdown, new enrollments, a subset of total enrollments, decreased by 17% for international students studying at college or university for the first time. 57% of the colleges surveyed reported a fall in the number of new foreign students.
The full year report for 2025-26 is likely to show a better scenario of the total and new international students admissions in US colleges.
