THE United States has always been a popular destination for Indian students aspiring to study abroad. But the Trump administration’s recent crackdown and widespread visa revocation have created an atmosphere of uncertainty regarding the fate of international students in the country. Students are now putting off their plans to travel to the US and considering alternative options in countries such as Europe and New Zealand.

A student we spoke to recently, who did not want to be named, has an offer from a prominent US university for a master’s in political science starting Fall 2025. But recent developments have convinced her to abandon her US plans.

While the higher education community has cause to be concerned, studies show that there has been a decline in student numbers from prominent student markets such as India even before the recent policies came into play.

Boston College Professor Chris R. Glass has analysed data from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and found that, between March 2024 and March 2025, the total number of international students in the United States declined 11.33%.

“The most dramatic shift is the 27.90% decline in Indian students (-98,853) alongside a 3.28% increase in Chinese students (+8,364). This has returned China to its historical position as the top sender of international students to the US.”

The Association of American Universities (AAU) analysed SEVIS data and found a 4.5% decline in international student enrollment in doctoral programs between March 2024 and March 2025. This is the only decline since 2021, which was a result of COVID-19 disruptions.

Naturally, this comes a huge blow to higher education institutions that were only just recovering from the crippling effects of the pandemic. With the US government taking a strict stand on immigration, federal research funding and campus activism, it remains to be seen whether United States’ thriving higher education industry will be able to retain its top spot in the years to come.