Despite a national decline in international student enrollment at universities across the country, Penn’s total international student enrollment increased by 2.1% in the 2024-25 academic year.
Recent data from the Institute of International Education — published on Nov. 17 in the 2025 Open Doors report — showed that Penn’s international student enrollment rose from 8,956 to 9,143 students between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years. During the same time period, colleges and universities across the country saw an on average 7.2% drop in new international enrollees.
The Department of State–sponsored Open Doors report, which surveyed nearly 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities, ranked Penn 19th in international student enrollment.
In addition to its 2024-25 report, the IIE published a snapshot for fall 2025 using data from 828 institutions. According to the snapshot report, U.S. colleges and universities reported a “1% decline in international student totals, which includes both students enrolled in classes and those on Optional Practical Training.”
In fall 2025, new enrollments — a subset of total enrollments — decreased by 17% for international students studying at their college or university for the first time.
Among the institutions that reported new enrollment declines, 96% cited concerns about visa applications amid the White House’s ongoing immigration policy revisions.
In September, Penn’s International Scholar and Student Services addressed a recent federal order mandating annual charges on H-1B visa petitions. The order followed a series of changes made by the Trump administration to immigration policies, including a plan to conduct more rigorous reviews of students from China and Hong Kong.
68% of institutions included in the snapshot also pointed to travel restrictions as a contributing factor to the decline in new international enrollment. ISSS had previously urged Penn students located in countries affected by travel bans to return to the United States.
The snapshot added that “colleges and universities report engaging in numerous activities to support international students, including guidance on maintaining status.”
Penn has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to providing guidance and resources to international students. Following the federal government’s decision to revoke Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students in May, for example, Penn administrators emphasized their “deep commitment” to the international community.
The 2025 Open Doors report also found that Pennsylvania was the sixth most popular destination for international students and that international students contributed around $55 billion to the U.S. economy in 2024.
