International student arrivals in US drop sharply this August
Federal data shows international student visa holders arriving in the United States fell by 28 percent in August compared to last year.
Visa numbers reach pandemic lows
The federal National Travel and Tourism Office recorded 277,000 incoming student-visa holders in August 2026. This figure represents a decline from the 387,000 arrivals seen in August 2024. The current total marks the lowest level since the depths reached during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Applications for PhD programmes also fell 21 percent over the past year according to AAU surveys.
India and China drive decline
Students from India and China accounted for most of the drop with numbers falling by about 50,000 and 23,000 respectively. These decreases squeeze university budgets as researchers worry about impacts on US science dominance. The administration introduced restrictions on visas since early 2025 when President Donald Trump took office. A proposed levy of US$100,000 on science students faced suspension by federal judges last month.
Policies create uncertainty for students
Higher-education specialists link the large decrease to restrictive policies that make US education seem unstable. Chris Glass from Boston College states uncertainty has registered in the hearts and minds of students. Other nations like the UK and Canada saw enrolment drops after placing new limits on these populations.
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