Indian Students in U.S. Fall 13.5% to 316,893
Prospective Indian applicants to U.S. master's programs face a shrinking pool of seats and tighter post-study work rules.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in College Applications
Active Indian students in the United States fell 13.5% to 316,893 in October 2026, down from 366,258 a year earlier. The drop of 49,365 students came as total international enrollment also declined.
Why it matters
For Indian families weighing a U.S. degree, the decline reflects tighter visa scrutiny, proposed fees on Optional Practical Training and STEM extensions, and a broader crackdown on legal immigration pathways. These factors shape how many students can plan on U.S. study and post-graduation work.
Active Indian master's enrollment fell about 20%, from 292,929 to 234,034, while doctoral enrollment rose from 28,609 to 41,729 and bachelor's enrollment slipped from 38,522 to 36,011. Of the 316,893 Indian students recorded in October 2026, 195,341 were male and 121,552 were female.
The players
Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)
The Department of Homeland Security database that tracks active records for international students and exchange visitors in the United States.
Indiaspora
A nonprofit organization representing the Indian American diaspora that issued a statement on the enrollment decline.
The details
The figures come from SEVIS data, which counts students with active records in the system, including those working under Optional Practical Training. The decline is concentrated in master's programs, the level where many Indian students have historically enrolled. Doctoral enrollment moved in the opposite direction, rising during the same year. Chinese active students also fell about 10.2% to 220,157, though India remains the largest source of international students in the U.S.
Timeline
October 2025: baseline SEVIS count of 366,258 active Indian students.
October 2026: SEVIS snapshot recorded 316,893 active Indian students.
October 30, 2026: Indiaspora issued a statement linking the decline to anti-Indian rhetoric.
November 1, 2026: Yes Punjab News published the DHS data report.
Education Landscape
The decline follows a multi-year pattern in which SEVIS counts have tracked changes in visa policy and post-study work rules. India's share of U.S. international students shrinking from about 28.5% to 26.6% marks a notable shift in where students choose to study.
Prospective Indian master's applicants should check current visa and post-graduation work rules with the school's international student office before committing to a program. Students already enrolled can ask their designated school official how any proposed OPT or STEM extension fee changes would affect their plans.
The takeaway
The enrollment shift shows how visa policy can reshape where international students study. Anyone planning a U.S. degree should confirm current visa and work-authorization rules with the school's international office.
Further reading
For background on how international students plan their path into U.S. schools, explore our College Applications coverage.
