The U.S. is a popular destination for international graduate students, especially those pursuing degrees in fields like engineering and business. But that interest may be waning. In fall 2017, international applications to U.S. graduate schools and first-time international student enrollment both declined for the first time in more than a decade, according to a survey of 377 U.S. institutions from the Council of Graduate Schools. Applications were down 3 percent from fall 2016, and new international student enrollment dropped 1 percent.

Donald Trump’s travel ban could be responsible for a fall in the number of applications and enrolments from international students to the US – the first decline in both numbers since 2003. New figures from the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) show that first-time enrolments have dropped by 1%, and final application counts by 3%.

Applications have jumped at journalism schools across the country. After five years of “consistent” application numbers, Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism saw a 10 percent increase for the 2017-2018 school year, a spokeswoman said. (Graduate schools in the US have seen applications rise about 1 percent annually in recent years, according to a report from the Council of Graduate Schools.)

International enrollment in science and engineering graduate programs in the United States saw a 6 percent decrease from fall 2016 to fall 2017, said Diane Souvaine, National Science Board vice chair and professor of computer science at Tufts University. However, the University saw nearly a 10 percent increase in enrollment of international graduate students in science and engineering programs, said Ethan Bernstein, director of admissions and operations. International graduate applications for all fields also saw a national decline, with 3 percent fewer applications submitted between fall 2016 and fall 2017, according to a Council of Graduate Schools report.

Two major news organizations are reporting that the Trump administration is considering restrictions on visas for Chinese citizens, including students, as part of a forthcoming package of tariffs and investment restrictions against China.

House GOP proposal would end formula that favored private colleges in Northeast. But it would also mean cuts in funds to some public institutions with strong records educating low-income students and send more money to for-profit colleges.

International students vote with their feet. For the first time in more than a decade, university admissions officials reported a decrease in the number of applications to graduate school programs from international students, according to a recent Council of Graduate Schools study. Researchers found that international graduate applications declined by 3 percent and first-time enrollments declined by 1 percent from the fall of 2016 to the fall of 2017.

The CGS report found that for the first time since Fall 2003, application counts from prospective international graduate students declined by 3% while the first-time enrolment of international graduate students declined by 1%. The overall decline was focused primarily in master’s and certificate programs, with responding institutions reporting a 4.8% decrease in applications and a 2.8% decrease in first-time enrolment.

Visa data suggest decreases in the number of individuals from countries affected by the travel ban coming to the U.S. as students or for short-term business travel, a category that includes travel related to academic conferences.

It appears the U.S. is becoming a less-attractive place to pursue graduate education, and that’s an alarming trend for schools that count on tuition dollars from foreign students. Between fall 2016 and 2017, the number of international students applying to graduate school in the U.S. declined 3%, according to survey data published Tuesday by the Council of Graduate Schools, a graduate school advocacy organization.