Indian student enrolments in US universities drop 45% due to visa uncertainty, rising costs

Indian student enrolments at US universities fell 45% in August 2025, while international applications to Indian graduate management programmes rose 25%, according to the Graduate Management Admission Council’s (GMAC) latest white paper. According to these findings, there is a shift in global management education trends, influenced by visa policies, currency pressures and affordability concerns.

As per the GMAC 2025 Application Trends Survey, international applications increased in Europe (excluding the UK) and Asia, but declined across the US, Canada and the UK. The drop in overseas demand outweighed gains in domestic applications in these countries.

Shift in study destinations

According to the pulse survey of 361 business schools, 54% of programmes in the Asia-Pacific region had higher international enrolment in fall 2025 compared with the previous year. In contrast, two-thirds of programmes in the Americas recorded declines.


Visa issues have affected enrolment outcomes even after admission offers. Nearly 90% of programmes in the Americas cited India among the top countries where students paid deposits but did not enrol, largely due to visa delays, denials or multiple deposits.

According to GMAC’s Prospective Students Survey, preference among non-US candidates for studying in the US dropped to 42% in 2025 from 57% in 2019. Western Europe remained steady at 63%. Interest in Asia and Eastern Europe continued to rise through 2025, reflecting diversification in study destinations.

India’s dual role

India continues to be a major source of global management talent. More than two in five Indian business school programmes reported the US as their top source of international students. At the same time, the 25% increase in international applications to Indian programmes suggests the country is emerging as a destination.

Institutions in Canada, the US and the UK cited visa policy changes and geopolitical factors as key reasons for declining applications. Canada’s 2024 cap on international study permits reduced applications and approvals. The US higher education sector recorded a 19% fall in new international enrolments, alongside visa interview suspensions and immigration curbs.

In the UK, restrictions on dependents and a shorter post-study work period contributed to a 12% drop in processed student visas in 2024. Australia also reported a 16% fall in enrolments in the first half of 2025 following its National Planning Level policy.
GMAC said financial considerations are now playing a bigger role than institutional reputation in decision-making. The fall of the Indian rupee to record lows against major currencies in September 2025 reduced purchasing power and made overseas education more expensive.

The white paper concludes that global management talent flows in 2026 will depend less on rankings and more on visa clarity, post-study work opportunities and affordability.

(With TOI inputs)