FEWER STUDENTS FROM ABROAD

The Trump administration's attempts to overhaul higher education have led to drops in international enrollment

- BY JAWEED KALEEM, MAKIYA SEMINERA AND CHRISTOPHER L. KELLER

JULIANA YAMADA Los Angeles Times CALIFORNIA usually attracts the most international students of any state. In 2024, UCLA, above, had 10,446 foreign students.

The number of international student arrivals in the United States dropped by nearly a fifth at the onset of this academic year, according to federal data, the latest sign of a hit to colleges' foreign student enrollment as the Trump administration has ratcheted up scrutiny of their visas.

International visitors arriving in the U.S. on student visas declined 19% in August compared with the same month in 2024, according to the preliminary data released by the National Travel and Tourism Office. The numbers also declined in June and July, but August is the summer month that typically sees the most international student arrivals — 313,138 this year.

As the federal government has clamped down on student visitors, industry groups have warned of international enrollment declines that threaten school budgets and American colleges' standing in the world. Although the extent of the change remains to be seen, the new data suggest a turnaround in international enrollment that had been rebounding in the U.S. from a decline worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

About 1.1 million international students were in the United States last year — a source of key revenue for tuition-driven colleges. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid, and many pay full tuition.

The situation for students in California

Many California campuses, including those in the University of California system, have not yet released data on fall enrollment, but they prepared for potential hurdles in attracting international students.