Overview
- Common App reported on Thursday that international first‑year applications fell about 10 percent in the 2026 cycle, equal to nearly 16,000 fewer applicants than in 2025.
- The drop was concentrated in Asia and Africa, which saw double‑digit declines, while Europe fell about 4 percent and the most selective U.S. schools saw only about a 1 percent decline.
- Analysts and Common App officials link the pullback to policy changes under President Trump that tighten student visa approvals and limit transfers, major changes that the Department of Homeland Security data show have already cut international enrollment by roughly 13 percent and that projections say could mean about 112,000 fewer international students on U.S. campuses this fall.
- Domestic applications rose modestly and more applicants are submitting SAT or ACT scores, a shift tied to some elite universities returning to testing and reflected in an roughly 11 percent rise in reported test submissions.
- Colleges that rely on tuition from international students face added recruiting and budget pressure, students worldwide may choose other host countries with active recruitment programs, and admissions officers will be watching visa rules and fall enrollment figures for signs of a deeper decline.