From Ivy Halls To Exodus, Why Indian STEM Minds Are Fleeing US As OPT Participation Plummets | World News

Washington: The corridors of American universities no longer echo with the same Indian voices. The crowd is thinning. The numbers tell the story.

US-based venture capitalist Debarghya Das shared new data that paints a striking picture. Once the dreamland of ambitious engineers and data scientists from abroad, the United States is not what it used to be. The country has experienced an overall decline of 18% in the number of international students since 2017 (the peak year). For Indian students, the decline was steeper, with a 42% drop in numbers.

Das’s post comes from the OPT Observatory, which monitors participation in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, a work permit that allows international graduates to work in their field for up to three years. The numbers show a clear trend: fewer Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) graduates in India are choosing to stay in the US.

Almost all of them did this years ago. Nearly 95% of Indian STEM graduates had at one time or another opted for OPT extensions. That number is now close to 78 percent. For Chinese students, the decline is even sharper; From 75% to 50%.

The decline isn’t just statistical; It indicates a change in emotions.

“Indian STEM students have historically been much more likely to stay in the US than their Chinese counterparts. But even those numbers are now declining,” Das wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

HUGE Migration Statistics! The USA is no longer as attractive to international students as it once was.

— International students are down 18% since the peak in 2017 to ~205k/year. Indians were most affected by this situation (-42% compared to 2017).

— Indian STEM Masters students in the USA prefer to stay in the USA… pic.twitter.com/jiPjVhsrfP— Deedy (@deedydas) October 11, 2025

A chart he shared shows that the trend line has been trending downwards year over year. This marks the quiet retreat of foreign minds who once viewed the United States as the ultimate launching pad.

There are many reasons behind the decline.

The migration labyrinth has become even thicker. The H-1B visa lottery remains uncertain, leaving thousands of qualified graduates in limbo. The paths to permanent residence have become longer and more complex. Concern about business sponsorship increases every year.

At the same time, other nations opened their doors wider. Canada offers smoother permanent residence pathways. The UK now welcomes post-training studies. Australia, Germany and even the Gulf countries are creating clearer pathways for global talent. They are doing what the USA once did best; They transform students into citizens.

OPT Observatory highlights another layer of the story. Indian and Chinese STEM graduate students once accounted for nearly 30% of all international graduates in the United States. Their steady emergence could reshape the country’s technology and research backbone.

For India, this decline cuts both ways. Declining numbers mean fewer students abroad, but it also means a possible return of talented minds finding new headquarters in Bangalore, Hyderabad or Singapore rather than Silicon Valley.

Still the signal is on. The United States is losing its luster as the world’s academic magnet. The drop from 95% to 78% among Indian STEM OPT participants reflects a reality: dreams that once flew across the Atlantic are now finding new skies.