Indian applications to US colleges drop 15% amid stricter visa rules

Applications from Indian students to US colleges have fallen 15 per cent amid tighter immigration rules. The decline could hurt campus enrolments and reduce the economic contribution of overseas students.Stock photo used for illustrationAmid tighter US immigration policies, the number of Indian students applying to US colleges fell 15 per cent in 2025-26 from the previous year, according to a report by the Common App. The report said that while undergraduate application volumes for the 2026-27 academic year rose overall, the number of international applicants through March 1 dropped 10 per cent, the steepest decline on record.The non-profit organisation’s report, based on data from more than 1,100 institutions, recorded the 15 per cent fall in applicants from India, the biggest source of international students in the US. India had more than 3.63 lakh students enrolled in US institutions in the 2024-25 academic year.The report said international students contributed USD 41.77 billion to the local economy in Fall 2025-26. That figure is projected to fall to USD 38.37 billion in 2026-27.Earlier, a report by NAFSA: Association of International Educators and research firm JB International said stricter visa rules and policy uncertainty could lead to as many as 1.1 lakh fewer international student registrations at US colleges and universities in Fall 2026. According to that report, international student registrations were estimated at 11.69 lakh in Fall 2025-26 and are down to 10.57 lakh this year. 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, or OPT, programme to work in the country after graduation. OPT allows foreign nationals on student visas to work in the US for 12 months, or in some cases 24 months, and also helps students move to an employer-sponsored H-1B visa. The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to hire foreign workers in speciality occupations requiring theoretical or technical expertise, and is widely used by technology companies to recruit workers from countries such as India and China.The reports point to a drop in Indian and overall international student interest in US colleges as immigration rules tighten, with possible effects on campus enrolments and the wider economy. With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 25, 2026 08:54 IST