India, Sept. 22 -- US student visa arrivals fell to a four-year low in August due to a 50% drop from India, underscoring a grim future for the country's education sector.

Student arrivals to the US dropped 19% year-on-year in August to a little over 3,13,000-a fifth consecutive month of declines, according to data from the International Trade Administration that tracks visa arrivals. That's the lowest since 2021 amid the covid pandemic. Total student are down nearly 12% for the year through August.

The downturn is dramatic among those from Asia, particularly India.

The number of Indians opting for a US student visa fell 45% while those from China fell 12%. Thirteen of the biggest source markets in Asia-from Japan to Vietnam-experienced...