U.S. colleges report softer international enrollment as restrictive visa and immigration policies under the Trump administration depress new enrollments, forcing institutions to revise recruitment and budgeting plans. University and visa experts cited application declines for fall 2025 and disruptions such as a pause on student-visa interviews that deter prospective international students. NAFSA Executive Director Fanta Aw and university leaders note the effects are uneven: large research universities may absorb declines better than small private institutions heavily reliant on international tuition. DePaul University reported a year-over-year drop of about 755 international students for fall 2025 and cited potential budget adjustments tied to the shortfall. Colleges are responding with diversified outreach, flexible start dates, and payment leniency; still, shrinking international cohorts threaten revenue streams, graduate-program viability, and campus diversity, prompting urgent enrollment strategy shifts across affected campuses.