More Americans, fewer foreigners are applying for college this year

OPINION: American universities are seeing more domestic applicants and that’s a good thing

Next year’s freshmen class might look a little more like America as fewer foreigners are applying to attend colleges here.

New data from Common App shows that while foreign applications are down 10 percent, there is an increase among black, low-income, rural, and small-town applicants.

Inside Higher Ed says the Trump administration has “dramatically” changed the “landscape” through its “hard-line immigration policies”

There is no dispute there. The Trump administration wants to establish a time cap on how long foreign students can study here and also has placed general restrictions on immigration from high-risk countries, which could discourage student visas.

While the data is from only half of the Common App schools, it fits with a general trend of decreased foreign student enrollment. “The number of visas issued to nationals of India (22,149) declined by 60 percent from the average number issued during 2017-19/2021-24 (55,717), and by 62 percent from 2024 (58,694),” the Center for Immigration Studies recently concluded. China also saw significant decreases.

New foreign student enrollment is also down 17 percent as of fall 2025, as The College Fix reported.

While the latest data are based on applicants and not enrollees, the trend could lead to a shift in the composition of many colleges.

Inside Higher Ed reports:

Despite the decrease in international students, Common App reported 1.5 million applicants in the 2025–26 application cycle—a year-over-year increase of about 2 percent…

…[Common App’s data scientist] said some domestic groups are growing faster than others. For example, the number of applicants who are low-income, Black or from small towns and rural areas is growing, even as the number of applicants from majority groups remains flat.

In total, “more than 25,000 students from small towns applied—a 9 percent increase” while “17,000 students from rural areas applied, an increase of 8 percent.”

Insofar as college is a good thing (which is up for debate), it is a reassuring sign that American universities may welcome more domestic students next year.

American colleges should not become launching pads for foreigners to establish residency, but should primarily serve Americans first.