Interest in studying in the United States has dropped to its lowest level since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new data from Studyportals, a leading global study choice platform. The platform, which tracks real-time demand for international education, shows a sharp decline in student searches for U.S. programs.
Between early January and the end of April 2025, the number of weekly pageviews for U.S. degrees on Studyportals fell by 50%. The U.S. also lost 30% of its global market share over the same period. Compared to its 2023 peak, the current market share for the U.S. is now almost half. If the current trend continues, U.S. student demand could decline by more than 70% year-on-year.
“Government actions and policies have consequences,” said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. “This decline should be a wake-up call for U.S. lawmakers to act before further damage is done.”
Given the administration’s decision to halt visa interviews (TKN 28/5/25), this may not occur anytime soon.
Students Turning to Other Destinations
Student behaviour on Studyportals shows that many international students who consider the U.S. are also actively researching other countries — particularly the UK. Nearly 9% of students who look at U.S. programs also search for degrees in the UK during the same session, up from 8.5% last year.
Other growing alternatives include Spain, Ireland, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, and Switzerland. However, Canada’s share has dropped, with fewer students comparing U.S. and Canadian institutions than a year ago.
American Students Also Looking Abroad
Interest from American students in U.S.-based degrees has declined by 20.5% in the first quarter of 2025. In contrast, Ireland has seen a 63% increase in interest from U.S. students, with other European countries like Switzerland, Sweden, and Spain also seeing gains of 25–30%.
Broader Impact on U.S. Education and Economy
The implications for U.S. higher education could be significant. Many American institutions rely on international students for tuition revenue, research capacity, and global competitiveness. According to NAFSA, international students contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy and supported over 378,000 jobs in the 2023–2024 academic year.
A report from the National Foundation for American Policy notes that 1 in 4 U.S. unicorn companies (valued at over $1 billion) was founded by someone who first came to the U.S. as an international student.
“Every student who decides against the U.S. isn’t just lost tuition—it’s lost talent,” said Edwin van Rest, CEO and Co-founder of Studyportals. “But there’s still time to change course. This is a wake-up call, not a closed chapter.”
A broader view is well articulated by Dr Eric Canny (TKN 27/5/25) in his piece “American Higher Education at a Crossroads: Compliance, Culture, and Control where he states, “We are not just witnesses to change—we are architects of resilience. While political cycles may shift, the mission of global education remains. The question is not whether we can maintain international engagement, but whether we can evolve it with integrity.”
