Fall season: US schools may see 25% less Indian students

The number of Indian students heading to the US to pursue higher education is likely to drop by 20-25% for the fall 2025 semester, as compared to the year-ago period.

- MANU KAUSHIK

According to "study-abroad" platforms in India, a near-month-long freeze on US visa appointments that included consulates in India, and increasing concerns over the impending future of optional practical training (OPT) have contributed to a fewer number of Indian students opting for "fall admissions".

Experts said that the pause on student visa appointments during a critical period—May 27 to June 18—ended up leaving many Indian students in the dark as they would not know whether their applications were going to be cleared in time for their intended academic program. "The disruption's greatest impact was felt in areas where student density is high such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. These consulates are significantly busier in processing applications between early June and mid-July," said Mamta Jani, founder of Ontrack Education.