Indian Students in US Hit 29-Month Low As Numbers Fall for 10 Straight Months in France

US Homeland Security data shows 3,38,230 Indian students in the US as of July, down 8.6 per cent year-on-year. The number has hit a 29-month low, with the population falling for 10 straight months amid visa appointment bottlenecks and immigration policy changes. businessline analysis reveals that since September 2025, monthly counts have progressively declined as tighter immigration policies and a slowdown in the tech job market have reduced the appeal of a US education.

The decline from September 2025 to July 2026 was 12 per cent, compared with just a 4.4 per cent fall in the same period the previous year. The drop is particularly sharp among Master's students, with an 11.3 per cent year-on-year fall to 2,66,104, as this cohort makes up the bulk of Indian students in the US. Bachelor's student numbers are also declining but more modestly, while doctoral student counts are rising, suggesting continued US appeal for research students.