Visa curbs trigger 15% fall in Indian applications to US colleges

The number of Indian students seeking admission to undergraduate courses in US colleges fell 15% in 2025-26, amid tightening immigration policies and growing uncertainty over student visas, according to a Common App report.

The report, based on data from more than 1,100 institutions, found that international undergraduate applicants through March 1 declined 10% for the 2026-27 academic year, marking the steepest fall recorded.

India recorded the largest decline among major sources of international applicants, despite remaining the largest source of international students in the US.

More than 3.63 lakh Indian students enrolled in US institutions across different courses during the 2024-25 academic year.

The decline comes amid a series of policy changes and proposals affecting international students. The US Government has announced rules replacing the traditional “duration of status” for student and visitor visas with a maximum stay of four years, broadly matching the length of a typical academic programme.