Politics · Vietnam Bureau
US university applications from international freshmen decline sharply
First-year international student applications to American universities have fallen roughly 10% in the 2025-26 admissions cycle, marking a significant reversal after nearly a decade of steady expansion. The decline reflects cooling interest across major source regions worldwide.
LSN Vietnam ·
Applications from international freshmen seeking admission to U.S. colleges and universities dropped approximately 10% during the 2025-26 admissions cycle, according to recent data, signalling a major shift in global higher education trends. The downturn ends a prolonged period of growth that has characterised international student enrollments at American institutions since the mid-2010s.
The pullback has been broad-based, with weakening interest documented across multiple major source regions that traditionally supply substantial numbers of international students to U.S. campuses. Analysts attribute the decline partly to evolving policy environments and shifting student preferences, though specific regulatory changes and their individual impacts remain subject to ongoing assessment.
The timing of the decline coincides with reported changes in visa policies and public discourse surrounding international student admissions at American universities. Education officials and university administrators have flagged concerns about how recent policy shifts may be influencing prospective international students' decisions about pursuing degrees in the United States.
Institutions across the United States have long relied on international student enrollment to diversify campus populations and generate tuition revenue. The 10% contraction represents a notable reversal of momentum and may prompt universities to reassess recruitment strategies and international student support programmes.