Amid tighter US visa scrutiny, international student applications fall 10%; steepest decline on record

A new report indicates a significant 10% drop in international student applications to American colleges for the 2026-27 academic year, marking the steepest decline in a decade. This trend is attributed to stricter US visa scrutiny and immigration policies, with pronounced decreases from Asia and Africa. The decline is expected to impact mid-ranked private colleges and regional public flagships that rely on full-pay international students.