The Institute of International Education (IIE), with support from the U.S. Department of State,
has released the annual Open Doors report, which tracks international student enrollment in the United States, the leading institutions and fields of study, and U.S. student participation in study abroad during the 2024–25 academic year.
IIE also published its annual “snapshot” survey, based on responses from 828 U.S. institutions, highlighting early enrollment trends for international students in the 2025 academic year.
The 2024–25 Open Doors data show a 4.5 percent increase in total international enrollment, including both new and continuing students. By contrast, the snapshot survey finds that overall international enrollment has declined by 1 percent so far in the 2025–26 academic year, the first annual drop after four years of steady post-pandemic growth. The decline is driven largely by a 17 percent decrease in new enrollments and a 12 percent decline in graduate student enrollment. Undergraduate enrollment rose by 2 percent, and participation in Optional Practical Training (OPT) increased by 14 percent, reflecting the strong graduate enrollment growth between 2020 and 2023.
Ninety-six percent of institutions cited concerns about the visa application process—including delays and denials—as the primary reason for declines in new international enrollments. Other major factors included U.S. travel restrictions (68 percent), students’ concerns about feeling unwelcome in the United States (67 percent), and the broader sociopolitical environment (64 percent).
Among institutions that reported increases, the most effective strategies were more active recruitment efforts (71 percent) and expanded outreach to admitted students (54 percent). Recruitment remains a priority for 84 percent of colleges and universities, which note that international students contribute valuable perspectives in the classroom (81 percent) and make significant financial contributions to campus communities (60 percent).
The snapshot shows that institutions are concentrating their recruitment in specific global markets, prioritizing India (57 percent) for graduate outreach and Vietnam (55 percent) for undergraduate outreach. Institutions also continue to place significant value on the OPT program, with 92 percent reporting that, without it, many international students would likely choose to study in other countries.
Nearly all institutions provide direct support to students, including guidance on maintaining legal status (93 percent) and comprehensive advising sessions (92 percent). Many also offered flexibility to admitted students, with 72 percent allowing deferrals to spring 2026. As the 2025–26 cycle unfolds, these early findings offer a snapshot of how institutions are adapting to shifting student demand and competitive pressures in the global higher education landscape.