Visa uncertainties to study in the US are prompting some American universities to consider establishing a campus in India. Dr. Rahul Choudaha said in a University World News article, “this is an opportune moment for international universities to establish campuses in India, given the rising costs of overseas education and increasingly stringent immigration regulations.”

The University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) has become the first American public university to receive a ‘Letter of Intent’ (LoI) from the higher education regulator, the University Grants Commission (UGC), to open a degree-granting campus in India. The first batch of students is expected to begin classes in August 2027.

Dr. Choudaha noted, “international branch campuses (IBCs) will not replace the outbound mobility of students. Instead, many students – particularly at the masters level – might consider alternative destinations or choose to delay their plans. The greatest opportunity for American universities in India lies at the undergraduate level; according to US State Department data, three out of every four Indian students enrol in master’s programmes. This is partly because postgraduate education offers better prospects for recovering the investment, whereas parents tend to be more cautious about sending their children abroad for undergraduate studies. The high cost of an international education is another major barrier. IBCs in India could attract more undergraduate students. Some of them might transition to the main US campus for their final year or pursue a master’s degree abroad at a later stage.”