Nigerians affected as US tightens student visa rules, enrolment drops

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The number of international students starting studies in the US has fallen sharply amid tighter immigration policies and growing uncertainty around student visas.

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New data shows that the number of new international students enrolled in US colleges in autumn 2025 fell by 17 per cent compared with the previous year, per CNBC report.

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The decline could deepen in the coming academic year, with international applications also recording a significant drop.

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According to data from the US Department of State and the Institute of International Education, the fall in new international enrolment came amid changes to immigration policies, visa restrictions and uncertainty surrounding the future of international students in the country.

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The Common App also reported a 10 per cent decline in international applicants for the 2026-27 academic year, describing it as the steepest fall recorded in its data.

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The decline was particularly pronounced among applicants from Asia and Africa, a development that could affect prospective Nigerian students seeking admission to US universities.

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The Common App said fewer students outside the US are creating accounts on its platform, suggesting that the pipeline of international students could continue to shrink.

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The changes come as the US government introduces tighter rules affecting international students, including a proposed four-year cap on F-1 and J-1 student stays, alongside delays and limited availability of visa appointments.

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Jamie Beaton, co-founder and CEO of college consultancy firm Crimson Education, said the impact would not be evenly distributed across US universities.

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According to him, highly ranked institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, MIT and Duke are likely to remain attractive because of the depth of their international applicant pools.

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However, mid-ranked private universities and regional public institutions that depend heavily on international students could face greater financial pressure as prospective students consider alternatives such as the United Kingdom, Australia and Singapore.

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Fitch Ratings has also warned that universities with large graduate and STEM programmes could face challenges under the new visa rules, particularly where students require more than four years to complete their programmes.

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International students often pay full tuition or receive less financial aid than domestic students, meaning a sustained fall in their numbers could significantly affect university revenues.

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The decline could also have wider economic consequences for the US. An analysis by NAFSA estimated that falling international student numbers could cost local economies about $3.4 billion and put up to 40,000 jobs at risk.

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For Nigerian students and families considering the US as a destination for higher education, the latest figures signal a more uncertain environment, particularly around securing student visas and completing longer academic programmes.

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