COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio State University announced its 2025 enrollment numbers, and new first-year international enrollment is down more than 35%.
Ohio State has planned to enroll a smaller first-year class for months. However, new international student enrollment declined disproportionately compared to other first-year groups. The decline follows immigration and student visa crackdowns nationwide. See previous coverage of international student difficulties at Ohio State in the video player above.
Ohio State’s total enrollment grew 0.5%, enrolling 67,255 total students and retaining its status as one of the largest universities in the nation. Ohio State planned for a 5%-7% decrease in enrollment after graduating one of its largest classes in May and reducing its first-year students to address capacity concerns following last year’s record-breaking enrollment.
All about new laws taking effect in Ohio todayInternational enrollment declined about 5%, in line with the expected decrease. However, new first-year international enrollment was down 35.8%, among the smallest of the past 10 years. With 553 new students, international first-year enrollment was second only to fall 2020 during the pandemic.
"Although down from last year’s unusually high enrollment, international enrollment is up from Autumn 2023 and aligns more closely with historical levels," Ohio State spokesperson Chris Booker said. "Also, continuing international students increased this year across undergraduate, graduate and professional students compared to the previous year."
Although the 2025 enrollment numbers align with the past few years, none are similar to pre-pandemic levels. International enrollment in fall of 2024 was the closest OSU has gotten to its previous enrollment levels.
Ohio State’s continuing international student population grew by 4.8% overall, meaning the university saw a nearly 5% increase in how many international students continue to attend Ohio State. However, OSU saw a 20.9% increase in new first-year international students in 2024, so it was predictable that the continuing undergraduate numbers would rise.
Ohio State spokespeople did not address whether the university thought the decline was related to university, state and federal changes to immigration and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. However, professors predicted policy changes would lead to a decline in international students.
Ohio's Senate Bill 1 became law in late June and bans DEI programs on college campuses. OSU complied before S.B. 1 was signed into law, adhering to federal mandates and sunsetting its diversity offices in late February. Other universities largely did not adhere to the same mandate.
Death of Hot Chicken Takeover: It's 50-cent sale, reflections from founderFor years, more than half of Ohio State's international students were from China, and the university has strong recruitment programs there. Senate Bill 1 includes provisions limiting academic partnerships with China, and in June, Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested revoking Chinese student visas.
"Chinese families and students will most likely consider other countries such as Australia, Canada and U.K. as their study abroad destinations," OSU instructor of Chinese linguistics Zhiguo Xie said in June of Rubio's plan.
Although neither has stopped Chinese students from attending Ohio universities, Ohio State did see a 8.6% drop in Chinese student enrollment. In fall 2025, 337 Chinese students enrolled at OSU. That marks 323 fewer Chinese first year students than in 2025, a nearly 50% decrease.
Ohio State's international students have also faced immigration crackdowns. At least 12 Ohio State students had their visa status revoked in April and were told to leave the country immediately with little explanation. All students' visa status were reinstated. Ohio State said the government does not inform them of visa changes.
Across the university, 68% of OSU's 8,210 new first-year students hail from Ohio. Graduate school enrollment also reached a "record high" of 11,463 students. With a record-high number of applicants, the enrollment numbers reflect an overall planned reduction of class sizes.
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