New Delhi: Amid immigration policy changes, the number of Indian students in the US has dropped to a 29-month low, after falling steadily for ten consecutive months.According to analysis from US Homeland Security data, there are 3,38,230 Indian students in the US as of July. The monthly count decline from September 2025 to July 2026 has been 12% compared to 4.4% in the same period in the previous year. The analysis has also found that the overall Indian student population in the US has fallen 8.6% YoY in July 2026.The decline in the number of students is more among those pursuing post graduate degrees with 11.3% YoY fall to 2,66,104. While this category makes up the bulk of Indian students in the US, the number of bachelor’s students have also recorded a decline. However, the number of students pursuing doctoral degrees is rising.The decline comes amid tighter visa regulations, and change in immigration policies under the Donald Trump administration.Sonal Kapoor, Global Chief Business Officer at Prodigy Finance, a lender to international students told The Hindu Business Line that while the US has been the first choice for many students, especially in STEM, visa delays have changed the locations where they are heading this year.The Association of International Educators and JB International projects up to 1,11,000 fewer international students at US universities in fall 2026, the BL report added.Avnish Singhal, head of consumer business (India, APAC, & Middle East), Emeritus was quoted as telling the newspaper that an upcoming report that has spoken to over 1,000-odd young Indians aged 15 to 28 years found over 40% have seen their interest in studying in the US decrease in the past year, driven directly by visa policy and rising costs.Singhal also said that the depreciating rupee, tightening visa regimes, and evolving post-study work policies have turned many Indians away from choosing the US.