US International Student Applications Fall 10% as Visa Uncertainty Grows

International student applications to US universities have fallen sharply, with international submissions through the Common Application down 10 per cent by 1 March for the 2026–27 academic year.

The decline is the largest single-year fall recorded by the Common Application. It comes as overall undergraduate applications have increased, highlighting a growing gap between domestic and international demand. Earlier figures also point to a weakening pipeline. The US Department of State and the Institute of International Education reported a 17 percent decline in new international student arrivals in autumn 2025 compared with the previous year. 

A spring 2026 snapshot indicated that further declines could follow, with applicants from Asia and Africa recording some of the steepest falls. The lower number of students creating accounts on the Common Application is also raising concerns about future enrolment. Universities may face a smaller pool of international applicants in the years ahead, potentially affecting institutions that rely heavily on overseas students for tuition revenue.

Changes to US visa policy under the Trump administration have contributed to the uncertainty. The government has moved to end the long-standing “duration of status” arrangement, which allowed international students to remain in the country for the duration of their academic programme. It has instead proposed a fixed four-year limit for F-1 and J-1 students. Limited visa appointment availability and restrictions affecting some countries have added to concerns among prospective students.

Jamie Beaton, chief executive of Crimson Education, told CNBC that the impact is likely to vary between institutions. Universities such as Harvard, Stanford, MIT and Duke have large applicant pools and are better positioned to absorb a decline in international applications. Mid-tier private colleges and regional public universities, however, could face greater financial pressure because they often depend more heavily on full-fee-paying international students.

The financial impact could extend beyond universities. Fitch Ratings has warned that institutions with large graduate and STEM programmes could face particular difficulties because some of these programmes take longer than four years to complete, potentially affecting their ability to maintain international enrolment pipelines.

NAFSA: Association of International Educators estimates that the decline could cost local economies US$3.4 billion, equivalent to about KSh440 billion, and put as many as 40,000 jobs at risk. NAFSA executive director Fanta Aw said the figures reinforced concerns that US immigration policies influence where international students choose to study and invest in their futures, with consequences for the wider US economy and society.

The pressure comes as many US universities are already dealing with demographic changes that are reducing domestic enrolment. Some institutions have become increasingly dependent on international tuition income to support their finances.

Students are also considering other destinations, including the United Kingdom, Australia and Singapore. US universities therefore face weaker international demand alongside increased immigration and visa restrictions, leaving some institutions to consider programme cuts and financial restructuring.

Separately, Kuwait has announced that temporary visa extensions introduced during regional airspace disruptions will end on 1 September 2026. The Ministry of Interior said visitors must leave Kuwait before their visas expire. Expatriates who are outside the country must also verify their permitted return dates through the Sahel government services app.

Residents who leave Kuwait by 31 August will qualify for a final exceptional extension. Those who miss the deadline will be subject to the country's standard immigration rules.