U.S. colleges reported a sharp fall in new international students this fall, with government and association data showing students shifting toward Asian and European destinations. The Institute of International Education’s Open Doors data and NAFSA surveys point to a 17% drop in new international enrollments and widespread reports of visa delays and consular backlogs. Institutions cite policy uncertainty, slower visa processing and revoked visas as primary drivers. Colleges and international-recruitment offices are responding by opening new markets, expanding online programs and reassessing revenue assumptions tied to overseas tuition. The decline threatens tuition-dependent budgets, campus diversity goals, and graduate‑level programs that historically relied on international applicants for enrollment and research staffing.