A curated list of select NAFSA media mentions and other key coverage of international education.
Week of September 29 - October 5, 2025
NAFSA in the News
CNBC: ‘A Perfect Storm’ — More Colleges at Risk as Enrollment Falls and Financial Pressures Mount
Colleges are facing steep enrollment declines alongside growing financial challenges, leaving many institutions vulnerable to closure or major restructuring. This pressure is especially acute for smaller schools, where shrinking high school graduate pools, escalating costs, and dependence on tuition revenue have combined to threaten their long-term survival.
Reuters: Fewer Foreign Students, Fewer Dollars: U.S. Colleges Feel the Pinch
Colleges and universities across the U.S. are reporting budget shortfalls as international enrollment declines, with institutions most reliant on tuition from overseas students hit the hardest. With fewer international students paying full tuition, some campuses are delaying capital projects, cutting academic programs, and scaling back student services while also worrying about the loss of cultural exchange and global perspectives in the classroom.
The Mercury News: California Leads Coalition Opposing Trump’s Planned Restrictions On Student Visas
California and a group of states are mounting a legal and political challenge against proposed federal restrictions on student visas, warning that the changes would choke off international enrollment and undermine state universities. They argue the policy would cause severe economic losses, weaken scientific collaboration across borders, threaten thousands of campus jobs tied to international programs, and make the U.S. less competitive in the global education market.
Forbes: Immigration Data Indicate Indian Student Enrollment May Plummet
Immigration data suggest Indian student enrollment in the U.S. could face its sharpest decline in years, raising alarms for institutions that rely heavily on students from India. With rising costs, stricter visa scrutiny, and fewer work opportunities after graduation, families are increasingly sending students to countries with clearer pathways to employment.
Cincinnati Enquirer: UC Sees 40% Drop In New International Grad Students. What It Means For Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati has seen a sharp decline in new international graduate students, raising concerns about the university’s global profile and the city’s workforce pipeline. The loss of these students could reduce research output, weaken ties to international networks, and limit the supply of skilled workers who contribute to Cincinnati’s economic growth.
Business Standard: America's Higher Ed Bubble at Risk As Indian, Chinese Students Retreat
Indian and Chinese students, who have traditionally formed the largest portion of international enrollments, are increasingly reconsidering study in the United States because of shifting immigration rules, rising costs, and new opportunities elsewhere. Their retreat raises questions about the sustainability of a higher education system that has expanded rapidly on the back of this tuition revenue, creating financial pressures that could cascade through faculty hiring, research funding, and institutional prestige.
Economic Times: Nearly Half of International Students Would Skip the US If Visas Lose Their Flexibility
A new survey shows that nearly half of prospective international students would choose other destinations if U.S. visas lose their current flexibility, underscoring how closely immigration policy shapes student decisions. Respondents emphasized that the ability to adjust status, extend stays, and work after graduation are decisive factors in choosing where to study, meaning that restrictions could quickly redirect talent flows toward Canada, Australia, or Europe.
India Today: Indian Students Skipping US? Arrivals Down 50% In July-August
Recent travel data indicates a steep drop in Indian student arrivals to the U.S., with July and August numbers falling by half compared to previous years. The sharp decline signals a potential turning point in global mobility, as Indian students increasingly select countries with more predictable visa processes and clearer career pathways, leaving U.S. institutions scrambling to maintain one of their most important international pipelines.
Inside Higher Ed: Institutions, Faculty Oppose Plan tUS SEVIS data appears to contradict sector's worst fearso Limit Foreign Students’ Time in U.S.
Universities and faculty organizations are pushing back against a proposed rule that would impose fixed time limits on student visas, arguing that such limits would disrupt academic progress and discourage applicants. Institutions warn that inflexible deadlines could jeopardize doctoral research, delay degree completion for students who change majors, and create new bureaucratic burdens for schools already struggling to provide support.
The PIE News: US SEVIS Data Appears To Contradict Sector’s Worst Fears
New SEVIS data reveal that international student enrollment in the U.S. has held steadier than feared, with only modest declines in certain regions despite restrictive immigration policies. This resilience suggests that global demand for American education remains strong, and universities that cultivate diverse international markets are better equipped to withstand regional drops and shifting policy pressures.
EdEx Live: Visa Rules, Policy Changes Cause Nearly Half Of Indian Students To Skip The US In 2025
Nearly half of Indian students who once viewed the U.S. as their first choice have now turned to destinations like Canada, the UK, and Australia because of complicated visa rules and shifting immigration priorities. The change represents a major loss for American institutions, as India has long been the second-largest source of international students and a critical driver of tuition revenue.
Other Key International Education Stories
NBC News: H-1B Visa Shake-Up Crushes The American Dream For Indian Students
Sweeping changes to the H-1B program are closing off a once-reliable bridge from study to skilled work, leaving Indian students uncertain about their futures in the U.S. Many graduates now face the prospect of uprooting after years of financial and personal investment, leading families to reconsider U.S. study altogether and pushing students toward alternative destinations that promise clearer career pathways.
AP: Trump Says His Administration Is Close to Reaching A Deal With Harvard University
Donald Trump announced that his administration is in negotiations with Harvard University to resolve disputes related to federal scrutiny and oversight. The talks reflect a broader clash between the White House and higher education institutions, as battles over funding, governance, and academic freedom have become central to the administration’s relationship with elite universities.
NBC News: Federal Judge Criticizes Trump Over Free Speech In Ruling For Student Protesters
Amid intensifying national debates over free speech and student activism on campuses, a federal judge ruled in favor of student protesters, sharply criticizing Trump’s actions as inconsistent with constitutional protections. The ruling not only affirms the right of students to engage in political demonstrations without fear of administrative retaliation but also highlights broader tensions between federal authorities and universities, signaling judicial resistance to policies perceived as suppressing campus expression and potentially influencing how schools navigate protest regulations going forward.
Reuters: US Memo To Colleges Proposes Terms on Ideology, Foreign Enrolment for Federal Funds
A leaked federal memo proposes tying university funding to ideological conformity tests and restrictions on the proportion of foreign students enrolled. The move has fueled fears that federal dollars could be used as a political weapon, undermining academic freedom, shrinking international diversity on campuses, and reshaping higher education into a more partisan and less globally engaged space.
Bloomberg: Trump's Spat With US Schools Revs Up Qatar's Emerging Hub
As the Trump administration intensifies disputes with U.S. universities, Qatar is investing heavily in its Education City to build itself into a new global hub for higher learning. The sprawling campus now features branches of major Western universities and is using its well-funded facilities, scholarships, and regional partnerships to attract students and researchers who may once have looked to the U.S. as their first choice.
Washington Post: Indian Students Say New Social Media Scrutiny Cost Them U.S. Visas
Indian students report that new consular practices involving reviews of social media accounts are leading to unexpected visa denials. Applicants describe being questioned about ordinary online activity, which has created fears that personal expression and digital footprints are becoming barriers to education in the United States.
Inside Higher Ed: Higher Ed’s H-1B Visas in 4 Charts
An analysis of federal data reveals that over 16,700 H-1B visa approvals were granted to higher education institutions in fiscal year 2025. Despite these numbers, the concentration of approvals among a small number of elite research universities highlights a structural inequity in access to international talent, potentially leaving smaller colleges and less well-funded institutions at a competitive disadvantage in recruiting highly skilled workers.
New York Times: Give In or Fight Back? Colleges Are Torn on How to Respond to Trump.
U.S. colleges are grappling with how to respond to the Trump administration's policies, balancing compliance with maintaining institutional values. This dilemma is creating divisions among higher education leaders, as some prioritize short-term survival and federal funding, while others risk political backlash in order to defend academic freedoms and international partnerships that are crucial to research and student recruitment.
Inside Higher Ed: What the Government Shutdown Could Mean for Higher Ed
With the federal government now shut down, colleges and universities are experiencing immediate disruptions to operations that rely on Washington’s support. Federal student aid disbursements are delayed, research funding and grant approvals are frozen, visa processing for international students is slowed, and guidance from agencies is unavailable, creating uncertainty that could affect enrollment, campus budgets, and the ability of institutions to plan for the semester.
Chronicle of Higher Education: The Federal Government Has Shut Down. Here’s What It Means for Higher Ed.
The ongoing federal government shutdown has already disrupted normal operations for higher education institutions, especially those that depend on federal oversight and grants. With Department of Education activities stalled, colleges are left uncertain about grant payments, regulatory processes, and the continuation of new rules, creating a volatile planning environment for administrators.
Inside Higher Ed: Trump May Tie Grant Awards to Compliance With Executive Priorities
Federal research grants may soon be conditioned on universities aligning with the administration’s policy goals, a move that would blur the line between politics and academic independence. If implemented, this change could pressure universities to redirect or limit research that conflicts with political priorities, reshaping the direction of federally funded science.
NPR: We're About To Lose A Lot Of Foreign STEM Workers
A growing number of international STEM professionals risk losing their ability to remain in the U.S. as visa backlogs and policy changes tighten. Their departure would weaken America’s capacity for research and innovation, while also shifting talent to countries with more supportive immigration policies.
The PIE News: New Study Maps Internationalization Efforts in US Community Colleges
At a time when U.S. community colleges are seeking to broaden access and global engagement, a new study has mapped the scope of internationalization across the sector. The findings reveal wide variation, with some institutions embedding partnerships, exchanges, and globalized curriculum, while others remain constrained by limited resources and political pressures that curb opportunities for students.
The PIE News: Trump’s Student Deportation Campaign Ruled Unconstitutional
A federal court has struck down the administration’s plan to fast-track deportations of international students, declaring the measure unconstitutional and unlawful. The ruling not only halts a controversial enforcement push but also reinforces the principle that foreign students are entitled to due process protections, setting an important precedent against future attempts to sidestep legal safeguards.
The PIE News: US moots 15% international student cap on 9 institutions
Officials are considering a measure that would limit international enrollment at nine universities to fifteen percent of the total student body. Implementing such a cap would reduce tuition revenue, alter campus demographics, and potentially limit research and programmatic initiatives that rely heavily on contributions from international students.