International freshman enrollment at the University of Wisconsin–Madison has dropped to its lowest level in at least a decade, according to recently released admissions data for the fall semester.
The number of international freshmen attending UW-Madison this fall declined from about 670 students in the fall 2024 semester to 470 this fall — over a 30% decrease. This year’s figure is the lowest recorded since at least 2015, the earliest year for which comparable data is publicly available.
Campus spokesman John Lucas said 7,467 international students total are enrolled at UW-Madison this fall, a decline of 490 students, or 7%, since last year.
The decline mirrors trends at colleges and universities across the nation and comes as President Donald Trump’s administration earlier this year revoked the visas of thousands of international students, including dozens studying at Wisconsin institutions, often for minor crimes or no apparent reason.
In spring, the White House also temporarily paused new student visa interviews, and the U.S. Department of State has issued fewer student visas overall this year.
Even so, nearly 14,400 prospective freshmen from overseas applied for admission to UW-Madison this fall — the highest number in at least a decade, according to a report from the university. While UW-Madison admitted nearly a third of international applicants, only about 10% of them enrolled.
The percentage of admitted international freshmen who enrolled declined by about 5% from last year, also making it the lowest recorded since 2015. The percentage has ranged from 14% to 24% over the last decade.
The nonprofit NAFSA: Association of International Educators estimated a 30% to 40% decrease in new international student enrollment on college campuses across the U.S. this fall. The organization attributed the decline in part to the reduction in visa issuances, the Trump administration’s overhaul of the visa vetting system and the pause on student visas, which led to delays ahead of the fall semester.
A June 4 directive from the White House also fully restricted travelers from 19 countries, with no carve-out for students.
Scott Owczarek, UW-Madison’s interim vice provost for enrollment management, said in a statement the university worked over the summer “to support international enrollment, visa acquisition, and travel to Wisconsin to help offset uncertainty over the climate for international students and changes to visa policies.”
The crackdown has alarmed education leaders who say international students contribute financially to universities and the wider economy.
Across Wisconsin, nearly 16,000 students came from other countries to study in 2023-24. They contributed more than $540 million to the local economy, according to NAFSA.
Kayla Huynh covers K-12 education, teachers and solutions at the Journal Sentinel. Reach her at khuynh@gannett.com and follow her on X at @_kaylahuynh. All of her work and coverage decisions are overseen solely by Journal Sentinel editors. Kayla’s position receives support from Kohl Philanthropies and contributions to the Community-Funded Journalism Project. Help continue this reporting with a tax-deductible donation at jsonline.com/support.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: International student enrollment down at UW-Madison