US college applications from international students fall 10% amid Trump visa crackdown: Report

International student applications to US colleges dropped by approximately 10% in the latest application cycle, marking the most significant decline in at least a decade, according to data from Common App. Nearly 16,000 fewer international students submitted applications compared to the previous year, the report revealed. The decrease follows the Trump administration's efforts to restrict overseas students and tighten student visa rules.

Applications from Asia and Africa saw double-digit declines, while European applications fell by 4%, breaking a trend of steady increases. In contrast, US applicants increased by 4%, with applicants from the South and Southwest rising by 9%. The decline could intensify as universities face financial pressures and questions about the value of higher education.

Highly selective universities, which accept fewer than a quarter of applicants, experienced a smaller drop of about 1%, while institutions with higher acceptance rates saw a decline of roughly 20%. The report also noted a resurgence in the use of standardized tests, with more applicants submitting SAT or ACT scores for the first time since 2019.

However, the majority of colleges still do not require test scores, with only 5% requiring them, up from 4% the previous year but well below the 55% in 2019.