New international student enrollment to U.S. colleges dropped sharply this fall, data and institutional surveys show, with the Open Doors report and related NAFSA research citing visa hurdles and restrictive federal policy as primary drivers. The Institute of International Education reported a 17% fall in new international enrollments year over year; total international enrollment dipped as well when excluding optional practical training counts. NAFSA’s Global Enrolment Benchmark Survey found that 85% of U.S. institutions cited visa delays and policy barriers as major obstacles and that many campuses are shifting recruitment strategies to new markets or expanding online programming. Canadian schools reported even steeper declines while universities in Asia and Europe recorded gains. The trend threatens tuition‑dependent revenue streams and research talent pipelines; campus international offices and admissions teams are already planning market diversification, online expansion and targeted recruiting to counteract lost applicants. Institutional leaders say policy uncertainty — not just student demand — is the decisive factor driving the shift.