Status of 2025 International Student Admissions
CGS Flash Survey Findings: 2025 International Graduate Student Admissions
Findings from a CGS survey of 433 member institutions (17% response rate) show both stability and challenges in international graduate student acceptance of offers of admission. Survey findings indicate that acceptance of offers by doctoral students remains steady or rising, while acceptance of offers by master’s students saw declines for Fall 2025 compared to previous years. This may reflect differences in how international students perceive the value, cost, or return on investment of U.S. doctoral versus master’s education.
Visa-related barriers were cited as the leading reason international graduate students declined offers of admission, followed by concerns about cost, political unrest, and personal safety. Responding institutions indicated that both prospective and current international graduate students have concerns about U.S. visa issues, underscoring the immigration, financial, and socio-political pressures shaping the decision made by graduate students to study in the U.S. There is a continued urgency for higher education institutions to support and advocate to retain current international graduate students but also to maintain the U.S.’s reputation as a welcoming destination for global talent.
