International student interest in the US falls to the lowest level since mid-pandemic, Studyportals data shows
The impact of restrictive policies on US student interest rivals that of the pandemic
[May 27, 2025 – Eindhoven, The Netherlands] 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 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 massive: 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. Compared to when the US market share was at its height in 2023, the market share is now almost 50% lower. Studyportals’ data paints a grim picture: if this trend continues, US student demand could plummet over 70% year on year in 2025.
Fanta Aw, Executive Director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators says:
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. Government actions and policies have consequences. The decline in student interest carries with it serious ramifications for U.S. pre-eminence in research, innovation, and economic strength. This early trend data should serve as an urgent call for Congress to intervene before further long-term damage is done.
Where students are looking instead of the US
Student behaviour on Studyportals reveals their decision-making process in real time. They’ll look at a US programme, then immediately search for similar degrees in other countries in the same session. This shows exactly which countries they view as alternative options.
America’s main rival for students is the UK. When students search for US Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, they are most likely to also browse British programmes. In fact, almost 1 in 10 students (9%) research UK universities in the same browsing session. And that number is climbing, up from 8.5% a year earlier. This translates to millions of students actively comparing America to one of its closest competitors.
For Canadian colleges and universities, the story differs. About 4.3% of students researching US programmes also look at Canadian institutions in the same session, but the figure has dropped 17% from 5.2% of sessions over the past year. This indicates that Canada isn’t automatically benefiting from America’s decline.
Along with the UK, those researching US programmes are increasingly also exploring degrees in Spain, Ireland, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, and Switzerland.
More American students are looking abroad
Interest from American students in US degrees dropped 20.5% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same quarter last year.
During this time, Ireland saw a massive 63% jump in interest from American students. Several European countries like Switzerland, Sweden, and Spain also posted strong gains of 25-30%.
What this means for the US
Studyportals’ insights come at a critical time for American institutions, many of which are increasingly reliant on international enrolments to maintain research capacity and global competitiveness.
Edwin van Rest, CEO and Co-Founder of Studyportals says:
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.”
He emphasises, “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.”
Analysis by NAFSA shows that international students at US colleges and universities contributed $43.8 billion to the US economy and supported 378,175 jobs during the 2023–2024 academic year.
According to a report by the National Foundation for American Policy, one in four US companies valued at over $1 billion was founded by an individual who first came to the country as an international student.
Studyportals search data predicts enrolments
Studyportals data serves as a leading indicator of enrolment trends. Because students typically search 1-2 years before enrolling, shifts in search interest reliably forecast actual enrolment changes. There is a strong correlation of 80% between student interest on Studyportals and enrolments in the US as reported by IIE Open Doors. This pattern extends to other countries as well, with a 92% correlation for UK enrolments (when compared with HESA data) and 80% for commencements in Australia (based on Austrade data).
About Studyportals
Studyportals is the world’s most comprehensive study choice platform, Over 50 million students use Studyportals platforms annually to find and compare their study options across borders and select the right programme. Mastersportal, Bachelorsportal, and PhDportal are among the platforms we’ve built to help international students start their journey abroad. Our goal is to make education choice transparent globally. We strive to ensure a future where no student will miss out on an education opportunity because of a lack of information.
Based on the search and choice behaviour of millions of students, our Analytics and Consulting team provide real-time, forward looking market insights to the sector. Studyportals helps universities reach a global audience and diversify their student population. For more information, visit studyportals.com/about-us
Media contact:
Cara Skikne, caraskikne@studyportals.com
