The number of international students applying to U.S. colleges for the fall term dropped by approximately 10%, the largest decline in at least a decade, according to new data from Common App, the country’s most widely used college application platform.

In a report released Thursday, Common App said the number of international applicants fell by nearly 16,000 compared with 2025. The decline comes as the United States has tightened entry restrictions for international students, including changes to visa rules.

Applications from students in Asia and Africa posted double-digit percentage declines. Applications from European students also fell 4%, ending several years of steady growth.

Rodney Hughes, senior data scientist at Common App, said it was the steepest decline recorded since the organization began collecting the data in 2013.

“If it is more difficult to obtain a visa, students are less likely to apply,” Hughes said.