New York: Indian graduate enrolments in the US have fallen sharply, with a 9.5% drop in the number of Indian students joining master's and doctoral programmes in 2024-25, according to consultants who analysed the latest Open Doors Report 2025.
Tighter visa rules, increased scrutiny of students' social media accounts and better opportunities in Canada, West Asia and Europe seems have pushed many applicants to look beyond American universities.
The Open Doors report, funded by the US Department of State, showed 177,892 Indian graduates enrolling for master's and doctoral programs in 2024-25, down from 196,567 in 2023-24.
Despite the slide in graduate enrolments, the report recorded a 9% increase in the total number of Indian students in the US in 2024-25 - an uptick driven almost entirely by OPT (optional practical training) participation, which jumped 47.3%.
In all, there were 363,019 Indian students in the US last year, including undergraduates, graduates, non-degree students, those on OPT and those already present before Donald Trump’s presidency.
According to consultants, new F-1 student visas issued to Indians have been falling for two years. Advisers said Indian students are either deferring plans or actively comparing US options with emerging alternatives.
