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International college enrollment decline impacts Pennsylvania universities
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International college enrollment decline impacts Pennsylvania universities
Listen to this articleAfter reaching a record high in 2025, international college enrollment is now declining again, signaling a potential shift in the global education market.
A new analysis of federal visa data by Manifest Law, an immigration law firm, shows that Pennsylvania is among the states most impacted by the trend.
In March 2025, there were 52,834 international students in Pennsylvania. By March 2026, that figure was down to 50,169 students.
That 5% drop in international student enrollment in Pennsylvania was the 15th largest decline in the nation, the firm said.
Nationally, more than 90% of international students are in higher education.
Over 1.1 million students are enrolled in postsecondary programs, including 512,841 in master’s, 351,908 in bachelor’s, and 188,184 in doctoral programs.
Enrollment peaked in 2025 and is now leveling off. International student totals reached 1,325,800 in March 2025 before declining to 1,279,758 in March 2026.
Manifest Law said in recent years the landscape for international students studying in the U.S. has become more challenging.
New policy changes, including mandatory in-person interviews and thorough vetting of social media profiles, have introduced new uncertainty for prospective students.
At the same time, interest in international education is growing in Europe and certain Asian countries, indicating increased competition for U.S. educational institutions.
This, however, isn’t the first time international student enrollment has declined.
The firm said international student enrollment in the United States has followed a nonlinear trajectory over the past decade, shaped by both policy changes and global disruptions.
After reaching 1,250,881 students in March 2017, total enrollment began to decline, falling to 1,189,423 by January 2020.
The data showed that most dramatic shift occurred in 2021, when enrollment dropped to 910,766 as COVID-19 disrupted global mobility.
U.S. consulates suspended routine visa services, travel restrictions limited entry, and evolving guidance around online learning created additional uncertainty for F-1 and M-1 visa students.
