Indian Student Admissions to US Universities Plummet 75% Under Trump's First Year

• Indian student enrollment in US universities dropped by a staggering 75% in Donald Trump's first year, the steepest decline in decades.
• The sharp fall is attributed to higher visa rejection rates, acute shortage of interview slots, and growing applicant anxiety.
• Many students deferred admissions or abandoned plans due to inability to secure timely visa interview appointments; enhanced social media scrutiny added to uncertainty.
• Around 8,000 student visas were cancelled by December 2025, with some F-1 statuses terminated over minor past incidents like speeding tickets.
• H-1B visa program faced proposals for increased fees and tighter caps, impacting Indian professionals; nearly 100,000 visas across categories were cancelled, mostly affecting Indian citizens.

Why It Matters: Indian student admissions to US universities saw an unprecedented 75% drop due to stricter visa policies.