Trump-Era Impact: 45% Decline in Indian Faculty Hiring in U.S., 100K Drop in Students
U.S. universities and colleges have seen a significant 45% drop in the hiring of Indian faculty. This year, only 380 Indian professors were employed, compared to over 700 last year. Hiring of foreign faculty overall has also declined, with only 2,500 foreign hires made this year — less than half compared to last year during the Biden administration.
The number of Indian students going to the U.S. has also decreased notably. In 2025, only 231,000 students enrolled in U.S. institutions, while in 2024, the number was 331,000. Two major reasons behind this decline are believed to be: withdrawal of university admission offers and delays or rejections in U.S. visa issuance.
The U.S. Embassy has not announced any resumption of new student visa interviews. As of May 27, all new student visa interviews are halted across all countries, with only pre-scheduled ones taking place. The U.S. Department of State has stated that social media profile checks are now necessary before issuing visas.
