UMass Boston and other universities throughout the country have reported a decline in international student enrollment for the fall 2025 semester.
According to a report released Nov. 17 by the Institute of International Education, first-year international student enrollment has decreased by about 17% across the board. This decline is especially prevalent in less selective public universities. Compared to last year, approximately 250 fewer international students are enrolled at UMass Boston, a decrease of about 17%.
“International enrollment always has ebbs and flows, but nothing that was kind of this extreme,” John Drew, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management, told WBUR. “International students are a huge part of our community.”
Across the over 825 universities who completed the survey issued by IIIE, there was an overall 1% decline in the total number of international students for the fall 2025 semester. For those who experienced a decline, “visa application concerns and travel restrictions” were cited as the main contributors.
The Trump administration has carried out multiple policies that are affecting international enrollment. In May, the Department of State announced it would place a pause on new visa appointments while they prepared to begin vetting applicants’ social media accounts. Increased crackdowns on student protesters or journalists expressing pro-Palestinian views have also affected international students’ confidence and safety.
The pause affected multiple countries, particularly India, where the highest percentage of international students in the U.S. comes from. The second-highest percentage comes from China — Trump’s threat in May to potentially revoke Chinese students’ visas may have affected future enrollment.
For UMass Boston in particular, the pause may have affected students’ ability to get to campus in time for the start of the semester. “International students are required to report to our campus at a very particular time,” Stav Boutsis, Director of International Admissions at UMass Boston, said in an interview with The Mass Media. “Those who had plans to be here have deferred for the spring, while others are waiting to see how things unfold and considering UMB in the fall, or perhaps taking a gap year.”
International students make up around 10% of the total student population at UMass Boston, contributing greatly to the school’s finances and culture. “We see international students bringing in a different global mindset,” Boutsis said, “and being able to share their culture with our domestic students…above all, they are eager to utilize or maximize opportunities that we offer here at UMB. There’s an investment, not just the investment that you make in an education…but there’s also an emotional investment that someone who lives with their families or is close to a family member might not experience in the same way.”
International students who have questions about visas or other concerns can visit the Office of Global Programs in room 2100 of Campus Center. Various clubs and organizations also offer support for students from many cultures and backgrounds.
“Think about what you have experienced in the classroom, in your extracurricular activities, your clubs and organizations, where you interact with an international student,” Boutsis said. “You have that exchange, the communication, the experiences that enhance the classroom, enhance the environment. We’re not just recruiting international students; we’re cultivating lifelong ambassadors for our institution.”
