U.S. Faces Drop in International Students: Key Insights from Latest NAFSA Report

1. Massive Enrollment Decline & Economic Fallout

• • • Projected 30–40% drop in new international student enrollments this fall (2025).
  • Equates to a 15% decline in overall enrollment, resulting in:
    • • • $7 billion loss for local U.S. economies.
      • Over 60,000 jobs at risk. NAFSA+1The Economic TimesICEF Monitor

2. Drivers Behind the Decline

• • • Visa interview suspensions between May 27 and June 18 disrupted processing during peak season.
  • • New social media vetting mandates for F-1, M-1, and J-1 applicants imposed without additional resources or guidance.
  • Appointment shortages at consulates in major sending countries like India, China, Nigeria, and Japan. NAFSA+1ICEF Monitor

3. Broader Implications

• • • NAFSA’s analysis underscores that these projected losses are largely self-inflicted due to policy missteps—not external shocks like the pandemic. NAFSA
  • • 1.1 million international students were enrolled during the 2023–24 academic year, contributing:
      • • • $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy.
        • 378,175 jobs supported. Al Jazeera
  • With most being from India and China, concentrated slowdowns in these regions could have ripple effects nationwide. Al Jazeera

Summary Table

What This Means:

NAFSA’s forecasts serve as a clarion call emphasizing how policy disruptions significantly impact study-abroad mobility and local economies. Without swift action—such as restoring streamlined visa processing—U.S. institutions risk losing ground in an increasingly competitive global education landscape.

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