Indian Undergraduate Applications to US Colleges Drop by 14%

Indian undergraduate applications to US colleges drop dramatically this year, signalling a major shift in global student mobility and raising new questions about the direction of international higher education. According to fresh figures released in the Common App’s Deadline Update for the 2025–26 admissions cycle, India recorded a steep 14% decline in applicants through the November 1 early deadline—one of the biggest drops among top-sending countries.

The fall is part of a wider pullback in international interest. The Common App reported a 9% overall decline in international applicants, even as US domestic applicant numbers climbed by 7%, underlining a widening divergence between global and American demand for US degrees.

Indian Undergraduate Applications: Asia and Africa Lead Global Declines

The downturn in India’s undergraduate applications to US colleges heavily influenced trends across Asia. The region registered a 9% contraction, driven largely by India’s sharp drop. The report explicitly noted that “this decline was driven by a substantial 14% drop in applicants from India,” underscoring the weight of India’s role as a major pipeline for US universities.

Africa experienced even more dramatic declines, falling 18% overall. Ghana, in particular, saw a staggering 43% drop, signalling deeper structural concerns in affordability, visa confidence, and regional economic pressures.

Among the ten biggest international applicant sources, only Vietnam and Uzbekistan posted growth, while long-dominant countries such as China also registered declines—though China continues to contribute the largest volume of international applicants to US institutions.

Another notable finding: international applications fell across every institutional selectivity band, with the steepest declines recorded at colleges admitting 50–74% of applicants and those admitting over 75%.

Domestic Applications Hit New Highs Despite International Dip

While India’s undergraduate applications to US colleges drop, domestic participation continues to surge.

The Common App recorded:

• 962,284 distinct first-year applicants to 916 returning member institutions — a 5% increase.

• A total of 4,716,352 submitted applications — up 10% year over year.

• An average of 4.90 applications per applicant, reflecting a 5% rise from the previous cycle.

Growth was especially strong among underrepresented and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups:

• Black or African American applicants: +16%

• Two or More Races: +11%

• First-generation students: +12%

• Fee-waiver eligible applicants: +10%

Rural communities showed noticeable expansion as well, with applicants from rural areas increasing by 15%, compared with 6% from metropolitan regions.

Indian Undergraduate Applications: Testing Patterns Shift as More Students Report Scores

This cycle also brought notable changes in test score behavior. The number of students submitting standardized test scores increased by 11%, while the share opting not to report scores dropped by 1%.
Even so, the Common App highlighted that first-generation applicants, underrepresented minority groups and fee-waiver recipients still reported test results at lower rates. Despite this gap, test-score reporting ticked upward across all demographic categories.