LL.M. applications from China and India slid more than 20% each. Visa denial rates hit 35% in 2025, threatening a key revenue source for U.S. law schools.
Alpha Score of 68 reflects moderate overall profile with strong momentum, moderate value, strong quality, weak sentiment.
International student applications to U.S. law schools fell sharply this year, prompted by immigration crackdowns and visa denials. The Law School Admission Council reported a 14% decline in the LL.M. applicant pool. Applications from China and India each fell more than 20%.
Several top programs posted double-digit drops. Washington D.C.'s law school reported more than a 20% decline in its in-person LL.M. program. In Berkeley, the number is down 20%. Michigan's drop was 30% after an 8% decline the previous year, admissions officials said.
Admissions officers attributed the decline to the Trump administration's immigration policies and anti-immigrant rhetoric. Student visa denial rates reached 35% in 2025, the highest in a decade, according to Shorelight Education. Many prospective students now choose cheaper LL.M. programs in the U.K. and Australia, said Sylvia Polo, an admissions consultant.
At Berkeley, assistant admissions dean Joseph Lindsay said he is doubtful the school will meet its fall target of 240 LL.M. students. At Michigan, senior assistant dean Sarah Zearfoss said acceptance rates for LL.M. programs are kept relatively steady due to English proficiency concerns. "You don't want to admit people who are not going to be able to do the work," she said.
The decline threatens a key revenue source for law schools. LL.M. programs charge the same tuition as J.D. programs but offer less financial aid. Average private school tuition is $59,570, according to AccessLex Institute. International LL.M. students often pay full price.
The drop in LL.M. applications mirrors a broader trend. International graduate student enrollment in the U.S. fell 12% in fall 2025, the Institute of International Education reported. J.D. enrollment among international students declined nearly 6% in 2025.
Whether this year's decline is temporary or the start of a sustained contraction is unclear. Law schools face pressure to lower costs and adapt, said Padideh Ala'i of American University Washington College of Law.
"It's becoming increasingly harder to keep our competitive advantage because of our cost structure and the problem of getting students to want to come to the United States," she said.
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