- US is losing appeal as top choice for Indian students, says Fareed Zakaria
- Indian students increasingly prefer Australia, UK, Canada, and Germany for education
- Visa issues, higher fees, and policy changes reduce US attractiveness for Indian students
For Indian students, the US was once the top choice, but the American dream is slowly fading away. According to Indian-origin CNN journalist Fareed Zakaria, the US is losing its global influence by no longer being the top destination for the world's brightest minds.
In a recent interview, Zakaria described the drop in Indian students choosing the US as a structural shift, not just a short-term change. He argued that American universities have lost their once unquestioned reputation and prestige, leading students to explore better or more practical options in countries like Australia and the UK.
"America has done this to itself," Zakaria warned. He added that America's decreasing appeal to Indian students stems from its own policies and changing global dynamics, with visa uncertainty, increased H-1B fees, and the weakening "halo effect" of US universities making alternatives in Europe and Canada more attractive due to lower costs and better opportunities.
Recalling a conversation with a friend who runs a student loan company, Zakaria noted that while the overall business grew by 20%, loans for Indian students heading to the US dropped by 50%. When asked if this was temporary, the answer was a firm no.
The journalist explained that Indian students are now exploring alternatives like Australia, Canada, the UK, and Germany -- countries that offer quality education at a fraction of US costs. "People are discovering the rest of the world. They're discovering that they could go to universities in Australia, in Canada, in Britain and they're realising that it's a third the price. It's a quarter the price," he said.
Recent data supports this trend
According to India's Ministry of External Affairs, the number of Indian students abroad fell by 5.7% in 2025 compared to 2024. Meanwhile, Germany doubled its share of Indian students, the UK saw a 143% jump, and Ireland's numbers rose by 1.5 times.
The US and other countries have also made frequent, often abrupt changes to visa, work, and dependent policies, leaving students and families uncertain about future prospects. As a result, more Indian students are pausing or diversifying their choices.
Reasons for this Shift
- Tighter visa regulations and increased monitoring under recent US administrations have made the path to staying and working in the US more difficult.
- The perception of US universities as the undisputed gold standard is fading as students find comparable or better value elsewhere, with some alternatives costing significantly less.
- The long-held belief that any US university is superior is weakening as students discover other global options, reducing America's influence in global education.
- Countries like Germany and the UK are offering attractive low tuition and strong post-study work opportunities, drawing a surge of Indian students.
