The Trump administration has issued a memo directing select US universities to cap international undergraduates at 15%, with a 5% limit per country. Non-compliance could result in loss of federal funding, raising concerns among Indian students about admissions and visas.

The United States government has instructed nine universities to restrict international undergraduate enrollment to 15% of total students, ensuring that no more than 5% come from a single country. The directive comes from a memo issued under the Trump administration as part of a broader policy titled “A Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.”

Policy Objectives And Requirements

The 10-point policy emphasizes several measures, including standardizing admissions processes, freezing tuition fees, sharing admissions and graduate outcome data, and removing departments accused of punishing or belittling conservative ideas. Universities that fail to comply risk losing federal funding, while those that follow the guidelines could receive financial incentives.

The policy also calls for screening international students for alignment with “American and Western values,” raising concerns about potential visa complications or deportations. The memorandum explicitly targets nine universities: University of Arizona, Brown University, Dartmouth College, MIT, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, University of Texas, University of Virginia, and Vanderbilt University.

Impact On Indian And Other International Students

Indian students, who form a significant portion of international applicants, may be disproportionately affected by the 5% per-country cap. Many fear that it will limit opportunities at more affordable campuses, pushing them toward costlier alternatives. Along with Chinese students, Indians account for nearly 70% of international enrollments in the United States, highlighting the policy’s potential to reshape the composition of student bodies at top institutions.

Background And Wider Context

The policy follows recent scrutiny of US universities over discrimination claims. Columbia University, for example, agreed to a $200 million settlement related to admissions practices, while a previously proposed $2 billion funding freeze at Harvard was blocked. These developments appear to have influenced the Trump administration’s push for stricter oversight of international enrollment and campus governance.

Observers say the new directive reflects a growing focus on limiting foreign influence in higher education, ensuring ideological alignment, and maintaining control over university demographics. Critics, however, warn that it may reduce diversity, restrict global talent access, and affect the US’s reputation as a destination for international students.

With the memorandum now circulating, universities and prospective international applicants are assessing how the 15% enrollment cap and related policies may affect admissions, campus diversity, and the availability of affordable higher education options.