Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The number of Indian students seeking admission to US colleges fell 15 per cent in 2025-26 from the previous year, amid tighter immigration policies, according to a report by Common App, a non-profit organisation representing more than 1,100 institutions.
The report said that while overall undergraduate application volumes for the 2026-27 academic year increased, the number of international applicants through March 1 dropped 10 per cent, the sharpest decline on record. It recorded a 15 per cent fall in applicants from India, the largest source of international students in the US.
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Earlier, a report by NAFSA and research firm JB International said stricter visa rules and policy uncertainty are expected to result in up to 1.1 lakh fewer registrations of international students in US colleges and universities in Fall 2026. According to that report, international student registrations, estimated at 11.69 lakh in Fall 2025-26, have declined to 10.57 lakh this year.
India remains the biggest source of international students in the US, with more than 3.63 lakh students enrolled in different courses in the 2024-25 academic year. The report said international students contributed USD 41.77 billion to the local economy in Fall 2025-26, a figure projected to fall to USD 38.37 billion in 2026-27.
In July, the US government announced new rules ending the traditional duration of status for student and visitor visas and limiting stays to four years, which is the usual length of an academic course. The US is also considering a USD 100,000 fee on foreign students who want to use the Optional Practical Training programme to work in the country after graduation. Together, the reports point to a fall in applications and registrations from India and other countries as policy rules become tighter.
With PTI Inputs
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
