This EPIGraph highlights emerging evidence that international student enrollment in the United States may be facing continued headwinds. New federal I‑94 arrival data show that international student arrivals were down 5% in March, 7.8% in April, and 1% in May compared with the same months a year earlier. These declines suggest that fewer students are entering the United States to begin or continue their studies, raising concerns about the outlook for international enrollment in the 2025–26 academic year.
The new data build on an already troubling trend from the previous year. International student arrivals during summer 2024 were nearly 22% lower than in summer 2023, according to an Associated Press analysis of Department of Homeland Security data. Taken together, the sharp decline last summer and the continued year-over-year decreases this spring suggest that challenges affecting international student mobility may be persisting. Because international students contribute significantly to campus diversity, research capacity, and local economies, continued declines could have important implications for colleges, universities, and the communities they serve.
While the immediate impact of declining international student arrivals will be felt through billions of dollars in reduced tuition revenue, the broader economic consequences extend far beyond campus budgets. International students contribute tens of billions of dollars annually to the U.S. economy and support hundreds of thousands of jobs. Continued declines in student arrivals could weaken local economies, reduce institutional resources, and diminish the talent pipeline that supports U.S. research, innovation, and long-term competitiveness.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, I‑94 Arrival Data (March–May 2025 compared with the same months in 2024); Associated Press analysis of DHS data on international student arrivals (Summer 2024 compared with Summer 2023). Graphic created by Educational Policy Institute (EPI).