Student visas are down. New student F-1 and M-1 visas fell a whopping 35% during the summer of 2025 compared to the previous year. Now, some are wondering if President Donald Trump is Making Education Great Again or wreaking havoc when the next generation of professionals returns to their own country or avoids applying here.
The most devastating free fall of applicants came in June 2025 when issuances dropped nearly 50%. The reasons were transparent: a two-week pause in interviews, increased social media screening, and overall stricter vetting.
It’s probably not all Trump’s fault – there were smaller declines in 2022 and 2024 under Joe Biden’s administration, indicating trends could be ongoing rather than temporary.
Of course, everyone has an opinion on how difficult this situation may prove to be, including Boston College Professor Chris Glass, who told The Pie, an international education aggregate: “The countries most likely to hold steady – Canada, South Korea, Western Europe – skew undergraduate. The countries in free fall, like India, are the ones that have powered graduate enrollment growth for the last decade.”
And yet there is so much more in the quiver of education warriors.
What Are We Missing?
Whether you like it or not, most taxpaying Americans can’t abide foreign students screaming “death to America.” But those crazies are few and far between. The visas in question are the F-1, for full-time students at accredited colleges and universities, and the M-1, for vocational studies. Both require relatively few hurdles to jump. Applicants must possess and prove they have the financial resources to cover classes, books, and living expenses. They must pay a fee of around $350 to be processed by the Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and provide a valid passport.
The M-1 visa allows the recipient to bring dependents along for the ride. But the decline in F-1 and M-1 visas isn’t affecting the Allahu Akbar crowd as much as our allies. India was the hardest hit in pursuing educational interests in the United States, with 63% fewer students applying in 2025 than in 2024.
“What has happened over the last year has definitely reduced the confidence of Indian parents and students,” said the co-founder of AdmitKard education consultancy, adding it would “take some time” to regain their faith and trust. Maybe that’s the point.
South Korea (-21%) and Vietnam (-25%) are also pulling back on the reins, as well as China, although it is doubtful that China will abandon altogether. Canada, the third-largest source market, has an out as the United States does not require students to have visas.
Some students are opting for less perceived combative environs and are registering in Canada, Australia, and the UK. That could be the result of conflicts on campuses over the Israeli and Palestinian debate, which in many cases have become violent. The irony is that, of all places, Hong Kong University claims it has received more than 500 inquiries from students in the United States and is processing applications for transfer. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology reports international undergraduate applications have surged by 40% over the last year, according to Alison Lloyd, associate provost on institutional data and research.
The Education Mouse Trap – Now They Care?
Besides dodging thousands of foreign students on our college town streets, what are we missing? According to research from the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA), that would be a heavy chunk of change generated by shopping, eating, and partying foreign students. In 2024, the disposable income from foreign students was a record-setting $46 billion.
SEVIS and US State Department data concur, warning that a potential 30% to 40% decline in new international student enrollment this fall would deprive local US communities of $7 billion and more than 60,000 jobs.
But Trump is on a mission supported by a majority of Americans. Immigration issues – no matter if they involve illegal border-crossers or those with expired visas – are going to remain a top priority.
