For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, international student enrollment at universities across the United States has declined.
International enrollment at American universities dropped this year with 19% fewer new international student arrivals this August than in 2024, according to data from the International Trade Administration.
The Institute of International Education reported a 1% decline in the total number of international students and a 17% decline in new enrollments for the fall of 2025, mainly at the graduate and non-degree levels.
More than half of the colleges and universities included in the report noted a decrease in new international enrollment. China and India are the biggest sources of international students in the United States, the former of which has seen a decrease in international enrollment, including at Tulane University, according to reporting from The Hullabaloo.
Dressie Fan, senior program manager at Tulane’s Center for Global Education, explained some possible shifts in the international student population.
“What we’re seeing is [changes in the] dynamic[s] of the student[‘s] country of origin… We used to have a lot of Chinese students as the major number of the international students,” Fan said. “That status has changed a little bit because we’re seeing much, much less Chinese students, but we are seeing a thriving number with … Vietnamese students [at Tulane].”
According to IEE’s Open Doors 2025 Report, Louisiana ranked No. 31 in the United States for hosting international students. Of the total 7, 533 international students in Louisiana, most originate from Nepal, China, Nigeria, India and Bangladesh. In 2024, China was the largest contributor of international students in Louisiana, accounting for 13.1% of students, with Nepal at second with 10.3%.
In 2025, students from Nepal made up 13.4% of total international students in Louisiana and China ranked second at 9.7%.
On a national scale, IIE reported a 7.2% decline in new international students who enrolled at a U.S. college or university in the fall of 2024, a difference of over 20,000 students compared to the previous academic year. Fewer Chinese international students accounted for a significant portion of this decline, as there were 4.1% fewer students from China, which translates to roughly 11,000 students.
Despite efforts by the current presidential administration to deter international enrollment, students still express an interest in studying in America. As of 2025, over 1 billion international students make up 6.1% of the total higher education population.
“I would say the policy change definitely play[s] a vital role at the international student number … but we also… definitely see [that] there’s still [an] interest for international student[s] to pursue [a] degree in [the] United States,” Fan said.
A large majority of colleges and universities cited visa applications and travel restrictions as the major deterrents for international enrollment.
“[The decline] has something to do with visa appointment availability,” Fan said. “Availability is absolutely a very important factor.”
According to NAFSA: Association of International Educators, a 15% decline in enrollment will cause an estimated $41 million loss for Louisiana and a $7 billion loss nationwide. Following a report released by IEE this Monday, NAFSA adjusted this number to a $7 million estimated loss for Louisiana and a global $1.1 billion loss for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Despite 96% of universities citing visa issues as a factor in international student application decline, Tulane did not notice a drastic change in international applicants for the class of 2029.
“[It’s] very likely to have … a decrease of a number [of international students] in the entire United States,” Fan said. “But for the Tulane part, I would say we’ve been really lucky, because we didn’t really see a … significant number drop … at an undergraduate level.”
In the 2023-2024 school year, over 1,300 international students from 107 countries attended Tulane, a third of which were from China. India ranked second making up over 6% of the international population. Spain, Nigeria and Canada followed, each accounting for 3-4% of the population. Over half of these students study at the graduate level.
“Our international student number is not that crazy big as some of the institutions in [the] United States,” Fan said. “We have to admit that some… [cities] like New York [or] LA would be more popular for international students. But I think because… the number [of international students at Tulane] is a little bit smaller…we are able to provide even more personalized service, and we even pay more attention to individuals.”
Based on the Open Doors Report, Tulane had 1,426 international students in 2024. As of 2025, Tulane has over 1,300 international students, a 5-6% decline from the previous year. Approximately 400 students are undergraduates, according to Fan.
“Even this year, we’re not seeing a significant … drop with the international student population. So that’s why we’re more confident. We don’t project … to have less [international] students next year,” Fan said. “Every institution or university … [has a] limited capacity for any kind of student. We can’t have unlimited increase in any kind of student body.”