The Crossbill News Desk
The United States is witnessing a sustained decline in the number of Indian students, with the latest figures showing the population falling to its lowest level in more than two years amid tighter visa rules and changing immigration policies under the Donald Trump administration.
Data from the US Department of Homeland Security, analysed by The Hindu BusinessLine, showed that 3,38,230 Indian students were in the US in July 2026. The number has declined for 10 consecutive months, with the student population falling 12% between September 2025 and July 2026, compared with a 4.4% decline during the corresponding period a year earlier.
The Indian student population in the US was down 8.6% year-on-year in July, according to the analysis. The decline has been particularly pronounced among students enrolled in postgraduate programmes, which account for the largest share of Indian students in the country.
The number of Indian postgraduate students fell 11.3% year-on-year to 2,66,104. Enrolment among undergraduate students has also declined, although the number of Indian students pursuing doctoral programmes has continued to rise.
The shift comes as prospective international students face greater uncertainty over visas and immigration rules in the US. Visa delays and concerns over the ability to remain in the country after graduation are increasingly influencing decisions about where to pursue higher education.
Sonal Kapoor, Global Chief Business Officer at Prodigy Finance, a lender to international students, told The Hindu BusinessLine that while the US has been the first choice for many students, especially in STEM, visa delays have changed the locations where they are heading this year.
The expected fall in international enrolments could further alter the landscape for American universities. The Association of International Educators and JB International projects that US universities could see up to 1,11,000 fewer international students in fall 2026, the report said.
For Indian students, the changing policy environment is being compounded by financial pressures.
Avnish Singhal, head of consumer business (India, APAC, & Middle East), Emeritus was quoted as telling the newspaper that an upcoming report that has spoken to over 1,000-odd young Indians aged 15 to 28 years found over 40% have seen their interest in studying in the US decrease in the past year, driven directly by visa policy and rising costs.
Singhal also said the depreciating rupee, tightening visa regimes, and evolving post-study work policies have turned many Indians away from choosing the US.
The trend suggests that the traditional appeal of the US as the preferred destination for Indian higher education is facing growing competition from alternative destinations, as students increasingly weigh affordability, visa certainty and post-study employment opportunities alongside the quality of education.
Data from the US Department of Homeland Security, analysed by The Hindu BusinessLine, showed that 3,38,230 Indian students were in the US in July 2026. The number has declined for 10 consecutive months, with the student population falling 12% between September 2025 and July 2026, compared with a 4.4% decline during the corresponding period a year earlier.
The Indian student population in the US was down 8.6% year-on-year in July, according to the analysis. The decline has been particularly pronounced among students enrolled in postgraduate programmes, which account for the largest share of Indian students in the country.
The number of Indian postgraduate students fell 11.3% year-on-year to 2,66,104. Enrolment among undergraduate students has also declined, although the number of Indian students pursuing doctoral programmes has continued to rise.
The shift comes as prospective international students face greater uncertainty over visas and immigration rules in the US. Visa delays and concerns over the ability to remain in the country after graduation are increasingly influencing decisions about where to pursue higher education.
Sonal Kapoor, Global Chief Business Officer at Prodigy Finance, a lender to international students, told The Hindu BusinessLine that while the US has been the first choice for many students, especially in STEM, visa delays have changed the locations where they are heading this year.
The expected fall in international enrolments could further alter the landscape for American universities. The Association of International Educators and JB International projects that US universities could see up to 1,11,000 fewer international students in fall 2026, the report said.
For Indian students, the changing policy environment is being compounded by financial pressures.
Avnish Singhal, head of consumer business (India, APAC, & Middle East), Emeritus was quoted as telling the newspaper that an upcoming report that has spoken to over 1,000-odd young Indians aged 15 to 28 years found over 40% have seen their interest in studying in the US decrease in the past year, driven directly by visa policy and rising costs.
Singhal also said the depreciating rupee, tightening visa regimes, and evolving post-study work policies have turned many Indians away from choosing the US.
The trend suggests that the traditional appeal of the US as the preferred destination for Indian higher education is facing growing competition from alternative destinations, as students increasingly weigh affordability, visa certainty and post-study employment opportunities alongside the quality of education.
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