Decline in Indian Students in the U.S. Reaches 13.5% Amid Tightened Visa Regulations
The number of Indian students in the U.S. has decreased by 13.5%, with significant drops in masters program enrollments, according to DHS data.
Washington, November 1 (Daily Kiran) : According to recent data from the U.S. government, the number of active Indian students in the country has dropped by approximately 13.5% over the past year, totaling 316,893. This decline is most pronounced at the master’s level, although India remains the largest source of international students in the United States.
Statistics released by the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) show that as of October 2026, the number of active students from India fell from 366,258 in October 2025, a decrease of 49,365 students.
In comparison, the total number of active international students in the U.S. has also decreased from 1,283,240 to 1,192,572, reflecting an overall decline of about 7.1%.
Chinese students, who form the second-largest group of international students, also experienced a drop, with their numbers decreasing by approximately 10.2%, from 245,038 to 220,157.
India’s share of active international students has fallen from around 28.5% to approximately 26.6%. This decline is largely attributed to a significant drop in enrollment in master’s programs, where the majority of Indian students are enrolled. The number of Indian students in master’s programs decreased from 292,929 to 234,034, marking a reduction of nearly 20%.
Conversely, there has been an increase in doctoral (Ph.D.) level enrollments, with the number of Indian students rising from 28,609 to 41,729, according to DHS data. At the undergraduate level, the number of Indian students stood at 36,011 in October 2026, down from 38,522 the previous year.
The total count of Indian students includes 195,341 males and 121,552 females. SEVIS data accounts for students who are active in the system, including those on Optional Practical Training (OPT). These figures reflect the status for a single month rather than the entire academic year.
This decline comes at a time when the scrutiny of student visas in the U.S. has intensified. Proposed new fees for OPT and STEM extensions, along with stricter immigration pathways, are contributing factors.
Indiaspora, a nonprofit network of Indian-origin leaders, stated on October 30 that the number of Indian students pursuing studies in the U.S. is decreasing. They linked this trend to the current electoral season, which has seen a rise in “anti-India rhetoric.”
Other South Asian countries are also witnessing a decrease in the number of students heading to the U.S. For instance, the number of Nepali students studying in America has fallen from 35,273 to 33,992.
