International student interest in the US falls to the lowest level since mid-pandemic
Cara Skikne
Ranim Chaya
International student interest in studying in the United States has dropped to its lowest level since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is according to new data from Studyportals, the global study choice platform that tracks real-time demand for higher education worldwide.
Millions of student searches reveal a troubling trend: the US is losing its appeal to international students. This decline shows up in two ways. Not only are fewer students searching for US programmes overall, but America is also losing market share to competitors like the UK and Australia.
The scale of the decline
The last time absolute pageviews for degrees in the US were so low was in August 2020, at the height of the pandemic. The drop is significant: weekly pageviews for degrees in the US collapsed by 50% in just four months, between the 5th of January and the end of April. During this time the US has also lost 30% of its market share.
But this isn’t just about fewer total searches—America is actively losing market share to competitors. The US has shed 30% of its market share during this period, and compared to its 2023 peak, market share is now almost 50% lower. Recent developments, such as the Trump administration announcing it will start revoking visas for Chinese students studying in critical fields, are only adding to the uncertainty. If current trends continue, US student demand could plummet over 70% year-on-year in 2025.
Where students are looking instead
The data shows exactly how students are making their decisions in real-time. They’ll research a US program, then immediately pivot to exploring similar degrees in other countries during the same browsing session.
Among these other countries, the UK stands out as America’s primary competitor for international students. Nearly 1 in 10 students (9%) who research US programs also browse British universities in the same session—a figure that’s climbing from 8.5% a year earlier.
Meanwhile, students are increasingly exploring programs in Spain, Ireland, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, and Switzerland. Interestingly, Canada isn’t automatically benefiting from America’s decline, with cross-shopping actually dropping 17% year-over-year.
Even American students are looking elsewhere
Perhaps most concerning: American students themselves are losing faith in US higher education. Interest from domestic students in US degrees dropped 20.5% in Q1 2025 compared to the same quarter last year.
Where are they going? Ireland saw a massive 63% jump in interest from American students, while European countries like Switzerland, Sweden, and Spain posted strong gains of 25-30%.
This data predicts what’s coming next
Studyportals’ search data serves as a leading indicator of actual enrollment trends, with students typically searching 1-2 years before enrolling. The correlation is strong: 80% correlation between student interest on Studyportals and actual US enrollments as reported by IIE Open Doors.
This means the current search trends we’re seeing will likely translate into dramatically reduced international enrollments over the next two years.
The stakes are high
This isn’t just an academic issue—it’s an economic and competitiveness crisis. NAFSA data shows that international students contributed $43.8 billion to the US economy and supported 378,175 jobsduring the 2023-2024 academic year.
The long-term implications are even more significant. According to the National Foundation for American Policy, one in four US companies valued at over $1 billion was founded by someone who first came to America as an international student.
When asked for commentary, Dr. Fanta Aw puts it bluntly:
International students and their families seek predictability and security when choosing which country to trust with their future. The U.S. government’s recent actions have naturally shaken their confidence in the United States.
Edwin van Rest, CEO and Co-Founder of Studyportals, emphasises the talent dimension:
Every student who decides against America isn’t just lost tuition money—it’s lost talent. The person who could’ve started the next big company or made some major discovery might end up in London instead of Boston, all because of decisions being made right now.
The data suggests the window for action is narrowing fast. But as Edwin van Rest notes, “The fundamentals of US higher education remain strong. There’s still time to change the story. This is a wake-up call, not a closed chapter.”
