In August of this year, the number of students going to the United States to study plummeted by 19%.

According to CCTV News, preliminary data from the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office, released on August 8th local time, shows that the number of international students arriving in the United States on student visas in August decreased by 19% compared to the same period in 2024. This is the largest drop since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

This is the most significant figure in recent years compared to the same period last year. According to the Associated Press, while numbers also declined in June and July, August is typically the peak month for international students entering the US during the summer. Preliminary data released by the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office shows that the U.S. issued 313,138 student visas in August this year. This means that as U.S. universities enter the new academic year, more than 313,000 student visa holders entered the United States, down from nearly 387,000 in August 2024.

This decline occurred against the backdrop of a series of measures taken by the Trump administration, including tightening work visas for international students and foreign talent, reimposing travel restrictions or bans on more than ten countries, and seeking to expel international students on the grounds of radical support for Palestine.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, there are currently 1.3 million international students, including those studying in U.S. elementary, middle, and high schools. As of September 2025, there were 247,000 Chinese students in the United States, including 68,000 undergraduates, 97,000 master's students, 60,000 doctoral students, 9,253 middle school students, and 771 elementary school students. Among all U.S. states, California has the largest number of Chinese students studying there, at 48,000, followed by New York State with 43,000.

Compared to September 2015, the number of Chinese students in the United States has declined by 18% over the past decade, from a total of 301,000. During this period, India became the largest source of international students in the US. In 2015, there were only 150,000 Indian students in the US, but this number is projected to rise to 384,000 by 2025. Currently, one in three international students in the US is Indian. Meanwhile, the growth momentum of Indian students studying in the US has slowed.

As the federal government tightens student visa policies, industry groups are warning that declining international enrollment will threaten school budgets and the international standing of American universities. A recent survey by the National Association of International Educators (NAFSA) indicates that international student enrollment is projected to decline by 30% to 40% this fall, impacting local economies by billion and affecting over 60,000 jobs, due to recent visa bans and disruptions to visa interviews and approval processes.

“The direct economic losses projected here are just the tip of the iceberg,” said Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA. “International students drive innovation, enhance America’s global competitiveness, and create research and academic opportunities for our local universities, which will benefit our nation for generations. For America to succeed in the global economy, we must open our doors to students from around the world.”