New Delhi. The historic decline in the number of Indian students in America has made it clear that the world’s largest education economy is now losing its old confidence. The increasing complexities of the visa process, stringent security checks and the uncertainty of H-1B work permits have left Indian families deeply worried. Its direct impact has been that Indian students are now turning their backs on America in large numbers and moving towards Canada, Britain, Australia and Europe.

The Institute for International Education (IIE)’s preliminary Open Doors Report 2025 and internal surveys of US universities show that enrollment of Indian students in the US has fallen by nearly 70 per cent by the 2024-25 session. While last year around 3,75,800 Indian students were studying there, this year the number has come down to around 1,12,000. This is the sharpest decline in the last 15 years, shaking the economic foundation of the American campus.

Visa policies increased difficulties
According to IIE, lack of visa slots, long wait for interviews and instant rejection even for minor documentary errors have become the biggest challenges for Indian students. The security check has become so stringent that many students have to appear for interview twice. The lottery system of H-1B work permits has also weakened the confidence of families. The attendance of Indian students in top institutions like MIT and Carnegie Mellon has declined by 60-70%.

increasingly inclined towards other countries
According to the Student Visa Monitoring Network (SVMN), America is no longer the first option for Indian students. Indian applications have increased by 38% in Canada, 24% in the UK, 19% in Australia and 17% in the EU. Experts believe that it is a search for security and stability rather than attraction. Other countries provide a clear path to work and PR after studies, while the US remains uncertain about this.

Huge change in the mentality of Indian families
For a long time, America was considered the top destination for education and career in India, but the current environment has changed this picture. Surveys of institutions to foreign studies show that till a year ago, 61% of Indian students gave preference to America, whereas now this figure has come down to 22%. Expensive tuition, insecurity, and uncertainty about the future have pushed families toward less risky options.

Such a rapid decline in Indian students is a major blow to American universities, not only in terms of revenue but also in the form of loss of global talent. Indian students have been strengthening the American education system every year with billions of dollars in fees and research contributions. Experts believe that if America does not improve visa and work permit rules, the world’s talent may permanently shift away from America to other countries.