The number of Indian students in the US has fallen 13.5% in a year. IANS reported the figures from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), run by the US Department of Homeland Security. The count includes students on Optional Practical Training (OPT).
The numbers
- Total: 3,66,258 (October 2025) to 3,16,893 (October 2026), down 49,365
- Master's: 2,92,929 to 2,34,034 (down about 20%)
- Doctoral: 28,609 to 41,729 (up)
- Bachelor's: 38,522 to 36,011
Compared with others
All international students fell 7.1% and Chinese students 10.2%. India's share of international students slipped from 28.5% to 26.6%, but India is still the largest source.
Reasons cited include tighter visa scrutiny, proposed fees on OPT and STEM extensions, and a wider crackdown on legal immigration routes. In 2023, students from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana received 56% of US student visas issued to Indians, Dinamalar reported, citing the US Consulate General.
