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The 2025 IIE Open Doors Report confirms that the US remains a leading global study destination, recording 1,177,766 international students in 2024/25โa 5% increase and an all-time high. This follows 7% growth the previous year, driven largely by strong expansion in Optional Practical Training (OPT), which surged 21% to 294,253 participants. OPT now represents one in four international students, reflecting last yearโs large graduating cohorts.
Undergraduate enrolments rose 4%, marking their first significant post-pandemic recovery. Community colleges also saw robust momentum with +8% growth. In contrast, graduate enrolments dropped 3% after three years of gains.
However, the story shifts when examining commencements (new enrolments). New international student starts fell 7%, including a steep 15% drop at the graduate level. This decline aligns with a 14% fall in F-1 visa issuance and a pause in visa appointments during critical months, along with heightened global uncertainty around US policies.
The market landscape also shifted. India remained the top source country, sending 363,019 students (+10%), while China declined another 4%. Several countries reached record highs, including Pakistan, Nepal, Vietnam, Ghana, Bangladesh, and Canada. Nepal climbed to #6, and Vietnam moved to #5, reflecting growing regional diversification.
The 2025 Fall Snapshot, covering early data for the 2025/26 academic year, shows a 1% overall decline so far, including a significant 17% drop in commencements. Graduate enrolments decreased 12%, while undergraduates rose 2%. To stabilise future numbers, many institutions are offering deferrals into Spring and Fall 2026.
Experts warn that the US system has become over-reliant on OPT, masking deeper enrolment vulnerabilities. Over the past decade, OPT participation doubledโfrom 16% to 25% of all international studentsโwhile actual university enrolments have softened. By comparison, countries like Australia, China, Japan, and India have invested in coordinated national strategies to attract and retain global talent.
International students contributed US$42.9 billion to the US economy in 2024/25 and supported more than 355,000 jobs, though this represents a slight decline from the previous year.
The underlying message is urgent: without proactive, student-friendly policiesโespecially around visas and post-study workโthe US risks losing its competitive edge as more students consider alternative destinations.
