International student enrollment statistics for fall 2025 have remained consistent in the face of immigration restrictions on the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus, according to new statistics released by the University.
This fall, 5,339 international students enrolled, a 1.3% drop in comparison to the previous year. This is still the second-highest total enrollment since the start of COVID-19 pandemic.
The enrollment total is well above the projected 30-40% decrease in international student enrollments in the United States for the 2025-26 academic year, according to the National Association for Foreign Student Affairs.
Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump’s administration has implemented several policy changes aimed at restricting legal and illegal immigration to the United States.
Changes to the student visa screening process in May threatened international students’ ability to arrive in the U.S. in time for the fall semester. Students on campus and International Students and Scholar Services reported a weeks-long pause in student visa issuances, extended wait times and reduced overall capacity at consulates.
New social media screening guidelines also required applicants to keep their accounts public during a weeks-long screening process, according to the Minnesota Daily.
Elsewhere across the country, data on international student enrollments remains unclear.
A recent survey found that 38% of responding U.S. schools received lower international student enrollments in master’s programs, while 28% received fewer doctoral program enrollments. Almost half of the students who declined offers of admission cited the U.S. visa process as the reason, while 25% cited political unrest.
At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security reported there were over a million student visa holders in the U.S. in September, increasing slightly from the previous year. The data, however, does not distinguish between new arrivals and students who have remained in the U.S. by transitioning to the optional practical training program.
Students expressed optimism about continuing their studies in the U.S. The potential impacts of immigration restrictions from the Trump administration, however, remain unclear.
Recent policy changes, such as limiting the duration of F-1 visas issued for international students studying at American universities, could threaten their ability to remain in the U.S.
