Indian Students in America Fall 13.5%, Master's Level Hit Hardest

Active Indian students in the United States have dropped by nearly 13.5 percent in one year, government figures reveal. The total now sits at 3,16,893, with the steepest losses concentrated in master's-level programs.

Despite the fall, India remains the top source country for international students in America.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) reports that Indian student numbers were 3,16,893 in October 2026, compared with 3,66,258 in October 2025. The difference amounts to 49,365 fewer students.

This fall is considerably larger than the drop seen across all international students. Total active international enrollment declined from 12,83,240 to 11,92,572, roughly 7.1 percent.

Chinese students, the second-largest group, have also decreased by about 10.2 percent, falling from 2,45,038 to 2,20,157.

As a result, India's portion of active international students has moved from about 28.5 percent down to around 26.6 percent.

Master's programs, which enroll the biggest share of Indian students, account for most of the decline. Indian enrollment there slid from 2,92,929 to 2,34,034, roughly 20 percent lower.

By contrast, doctoral (PhD) enrollment grew. DHS data shows Indian doctoral students increasing from 28,609 to 41,729.

At the undergraduate bachelor's level, Indian students stood at 36,011 in October 2026, down from 38,522 a year earlier.

Among all Indian students, 1,95,341 are men and 1,21,552 are women.

SEVIS counts include anyone with an active record in the system, among them students on Optional Practical Training (OPT). The figures describe one month's status rather than a full-year total.

The trend arrives as US student visa screening has become stricter, new fees for OPT and STEM extensions have been proposed, and legal immigration channels face tighter restrictions.

In a statement issued on October 30, Indiaspora, a non-profit network of leaders of Indian origin, said that 'fewer Indian students are choosing to study in the United States.' The group connected the decline to 'anti-India rhetoric' during the ongoing election period.

Students from other South Asian countries are also heading to America in smaller numbers. Nepali students fell from 35,273 to 33,992.