How International Student Enrollment in the U.S. Is Changing: Undergraduate Numbers Remain Steady, Graduate Numbers Drop Significantly

2026-10-04 · Guides

In the 2024/25 academic year, the number of international students in the U.S. reached a record high of 1,177,766; however, new enrollments for Fall 2025 dropped by 17%, with graduate enrollment down 12%, while undergraduate enrollment saw a slight increase. NAFSA predicts that Fall 2026 numbers may continue to decline. This article compiles data from Open Doors, IIE, and NAFSA, and explains what these trends mean for Chinese families.

The bottom line: the total number of international students in the U.S. remained at a historic high in the 2024/25 academic year, but the number of new students has declined consecutively, with the drop concentrated mainly at the graduate level, while undergraduate numbers remained largely stable. For Chinese students, the number in the U.S. was 265,919 in the 2024/25 academic year, a 4% decrease from the previous year, with a larger drop at the undergraduate level than at the graduate level. Complete data for Fall 2026 has not yet been released, but existing surveys and projections point to a continued decline.

The reasons behind these numbers are complex, and the impact varies for each family. Let's break down the key data from several major reports.

2024/25 Academic Year: Record Total, but New Enrollments Declining

The Open Doors report, published annually by the Institute of International Education (IIE), is the most widely used data source for understanding international students in the U.S. The report released on November 17, 2025, shows that in the 2024/25 academic year:

Category	Number of Students	Year-over-Year Change
Total International Students	1,177,766	+5%
Graduate Students	488,481	-3%
Undergraduate Students	357,231	+4%
Non-degree Students	37,801	-2%
OPT (Post-graduation Internship)	294,253	+21%
Newly Enrolled International Students	277,118	-7%

It is important to note that the 'total international students' figure in Open Doors includes those doing OPT internships in the U.S. after graduation. The increase in the total for the 2024/25 academic year is largely driven by a 21% growth in OPT. If we only look at enrolled graduate students, the number is actually declining; new enrollments are also down 7% from the previous year.

Chinese Students: A Larger Drop at the Undergraduate Level

In the same report, India ranks first with 363,019 students, followed by China with 265,919. According to the Open Doors country-specific data for China, Chinese students are distributed by academic level as follows:

Level	2023/24	2024/25	Change
Undergraduate	87,551	78,583	-10.2%
Graduate	122,778	120,229	-2.1%
Non-degree	5,517	5,126	-7.1%
OPT	61,552	61,981	+0.7%
Total	277,398	265,919	-4%

As we can see, the trend for Chinese students differs from the overall trend: while the overall numbers show undergraduates increasing and graduates decreasing, Chinese students show a more pronounced drop at the undergraduate level and a slight decrease at the graduate level. The total number of Chinese students has been declining year by year since the 2019/20 academic year, when it was 372,532, making the 2024/25 academic year the fifth consecutive year of decline.

Fall 2025 Snapshot: New Enrollments Down 17%

The Open Doors report also includes a 'Fall Snapshot,' a preliminary survey of 828 U.S. institutions reflecting the situation in Fall 2025:

Total international students decreased by 1%, marking the first annual decline after four consecutive years of growth.
Newly enrolled international students decreased by 17%.
Enrolled graduate students decreased by 12%.
Enrolled undergraduate students increased by 2%.
The number of students on OPT continued to grow by 14%.

This snapshot is preliminary data; complete data for the 2025/26 academic year will be available when Open Doors 2026 is released. The snapshot does not provide country-specific figures, so the exact changes for Chinese students in Fall 2025 cannot yet be determined.

IIE Spring Survey: Institutions Expect Continued Decline in 2026

In July 2026, the IIE released a Spring Snapshot surveying 585 U.S. institutions. According to Inside Higher Ed, the key findings include:

59% of institutions reported a decrease in international student applications for the 2025-26 application cycle.
Graduate programs were more affected: 43% of institutions said graduate applications dropped 'significantly,' compared to 31% for undergraduate programs.
63% of institutions expect international student enrollments to decline 'slightly or significantly.' Among those expecting a 'significant' drop, 36% are at the graduate level and 22% at the undergraduate level.
Nearly 80% of doctoral-granting institutions expect a decline.
80% of institutions believe travel restrictions have affected admissions, and visa processing issues remain a widespread concern.
82% of institutions still prioritize recruiting international students, down from 89% in 2025.

NAFSA Projection: Up to 111,000 Fewer Students Possible in Fall 2026

On August 11, 2026, NAFSA: Association of International Educators and JB International conducted a preliminary estimate based on the IIE Spring Survey:

In Fall 2026, the number of international students in the U.S. could decrease by up to approximately 111,000.
This could result in economic losses of up to about $3.4 billion and a loss of nearly 40,000 related jobs.
The decline in graduate enrollments is the primary cause of these losses.
Factors mentioned in the report include travel restrictions, tight visa appointment availability (specifically noting limited or delayed appointments in places like China and India), and policy uncertainties related to student status duration and OPT.

This is a projection based on institutional surveys, and NAFSA itself has noted limitations in survey response rates and data. The actual numbers will be seen in Open Doors 2026.

Why Undergraduate and Graduate Trends Differ

None of the reports provide a single explanation, but what can be seen from the existing data is:

The decline in graduate students is ongoing. Enrolled graduate students decreased by 3% in the 2024/25 academic year, and the drop widened to 12% in the Fall 2025 snapshot. Both the IIE Spring Survey and NAFSA projections indicate that graduate students are more heavily affected.
Policy factors are repeatedly mentioned. The visa appointment issues, travel restrictions, and OPT-related uncertainties listed by NAFSA have a more direct impact on graduate students planning to intern and work in the U.S. after graduation. This is a reasonable inference, but the reports do not provide a precise breakdown.
Different source country structures. The IIE Spring Survey notes a particularly significant drop in applications from India, which is the top source country for international students in the U.S.; its changes clearly impact the overall numbers.
Undergraduate numbers are currently relatively stable. Undergraduate enrollment grew by 4% in the 2024/25 academic year and by 2% in the Fall 2025 snapshot. However, a certain percentage of institutions also expect a decline in undergraduate numbers for 2026, so it should not be assumed that undergraduates are unaffected.

For Chinese students, the situation is slightly different: the drop in Chinese undergraduates (-10.2%) in the 2024/25 academic year was greater than that of graduate students (-2.1%). This shows that overall trends cannot be directly used to infer the situation for Chinese students.

What This Means for Chinese Families

Changes in total numbers do not mean admissions are getting easier or harder. Who a school admits depends on its own enrollment goals, the number of applicants, and the overall quality of the applicant pool. A national decline in total international students does not mean that admission difficulty for a specific school or major has definitely decreased. Especially for popular schools with already large applicant pools, expectations should not be adjusted based on this alone.

Process and timing deserve more attention. NAFSA mentioned delays in visa appointments in China and other places. Students who have already received admissions and are preparing to depart should schedule their visa interviews as early as possible, allow for extra time, and rely on official information from the U.S. Department of State and embassies/consulates.

Graduate applicants should think one step ahead. If the main goal of pursuing a graduate degree is to work in the U.S. after graduation, keep a close eye on official updates regarding policies like OPT, and also have backup plans, such as applying to programs in other countries or regions simultaneously.

Undergraduate applicants should stick to their preparation schedule. Undergraduate data is overall stable; standardized test scores, coursework, extracurricular activities, and essays remain the core focus. There is no need to change direction temporarily due to news headlines. You can also include the U.S., UK, Canada, and Hong Kong in your college list and make comparisons based on your child's specific situation.

Look at official data, not second-hand interpretations. There are many claims online about a 'plummeting number of international students' or that 'now is the perfect time to apply,' many of which lack data support. Open Doors 2026 is typically released in November, which will provide complete data and country-specific figures for the 2025/26 academic year, allowing for a more informed judgment.

This article only compiles data and interprets information; it does not constitute immigration or legal advice. For visa and policy issues, please refer to official U.S. government information. Data is current as of October 4, 2026.

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