India, Aug. 25 -- Amid tightening US immigration policies, the number of Indian students seeking admission to American colleges declined 15% in the 2025-26 cycle compared with the previous year, according to a new report.

The report, from a non-profit organisation representing more than 1,100 institutions, was released by Common App. It shows that while overall undergraduate application volume for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year rose, the number of international applicants through March 1 fell 10% - the steepest such decline on record. Applicants from India, the top source of international students in the US, dropped 15%.

India remains the largest source of international students in the country, with more than 3.63 lakh enrolled acro...