The Institute of International Education, the leading source of data on international students, published its preliminary data report of recent international student enrollment trends, known as “Open Doors.” This collection of data, released this month, featured a smaller sample size in comparison to Open Doors’ typical survey of 3,000 higher education institutions. However, the reduced size of 828 institutions still accounts for 63% of the entire population of international students.
IIE and its partnering research associations found a 17% decline among new international students in comparison to the previous year. Additionally, the research unveils that 57% of the institutions report a decrease in new international student enrollments overall, 29% note an increase and 14% indicate consistent trends. International student applications for next year have waned, as the number of total applications by Nov. 1 fell 9% from 2024.
Within the IIE report, 96% of the institutions indicated visa application concerns as an issue for enrollment. Some experts attribute the decrease in enrollment to actions taken by President Donald Trump’s administration, including the visa revocations of 6,000 students, suspensions of visa interviews and a travel ban on 19 countries.
Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the world’s largest nonprofit focused on international education, spoke on the enrollment downturn.
“It is an overall sentiment from international students that they’re no longer welcomed in the U.S.,” Aw stated.
Experts are also monitoring the economic effects of these trends, as NAFSA estimates a $1.1 billion hit to the U.S. economy. Additionally, NASFA found that during the 2024–25 academic year, international students contributed around $43 billion to the U.S. economy while occupying over 355,000 jobs. In Texas, international students contributed an estimated $2.4 billion to the economy within the same academic year.
NAFSA projects the number of international students will drop by roughly 80,000 to 94,000, or 15%, across Texas. This would result in a $388 million decrease in international students’ usual contribution to the state’s economy.
Universities across Texas are preparing for a financial hit. The University of North Texas is expecting a $47.3 million loss from international tuition. The University of Texas at Arlington estimates a loss of 300 undergraduate students due to a policy change that excludes in-state tuition for those without legal status. The university with the most international students among universities in Texas, The University of Texas at Dallas, is anticipating a $28 million decrease in tuition and fees this academic year. The Paisano reached out to UT San Antonio for data on their international student enrollment, but did not receive a response.
