Recently released State Department data shows concerning dip in BridgeUSA participation in 2025
BridgeUSA exchange program participant data for 2025 was just released, and the numbers tell a concerning story.
BridgeUSA participant numbers dipped to 275,000, an 8.8% decrease from 2024, and the first decline in participation in more than five years. This is a departure from recent participation trends, as 2021-2024 saw a steady increase and almost complete rebound from the 2020 plummet in program participation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The dip in 2025 participation signals that BridgeUSA programs are facing a variety of intersecting challenges. While demand for the programs – from both participants and hosts – is holding strong, exchange organizations have to contend with headwinds from several directions to convert that demand into participation.
Program Participation Decreases Nearly Across the Board
Nearly every major program category experienced a decline in 2025. The across-the-board declines suggest that participation barriers are not isolated to a single program type but are impacting the BridgeUSA portfolio more broadly.
Research Scholar, Teacher, and Au Pair saw some of the steepest decreases:
Research Scholar saw a nearly -27% decrease to 17,622 (down from 24,067 in 2024).
Teacher saw a -22% decrease to 5,276 (down from 6,780 in 2024).
Au Pair declined -13.2%, to 16,840 (down from 19,408 in 2024).
Camp Counselor was the only category to see even a slight increase, up to 32,740 (from 32,079 in 2024).
SWT saw a -2.5% decrease to 104,609 (down from 107,228 in 2024).
Intern saw a -9.8% decrease to 16,877 (down from 18,719 in 2024).
Trainee saw -12.3% decrease to 8,605 (down from 9,821in 2024).
High school saw a -6.3% decrease to 17,863 (down from 19,077 in 2024).
Impact on Top Sending Countries
Many countries that have historically sent strong numbers of participants saw decreases from 2024 to 2025, such as:
Germany: -11.42%
Turkey: -15.5%
Colombia: -25.7%
Mexico: -7.67%
China: -9.34%
Top Receiving U.S. States Also Impacted
The declines are felt domestically as well. Most U.S. states saw a reduction in their number of exchange participants, including those that typically host the largest numbers of participants, including:
New York: -5.51%
Pennsylvania: -6.54%
Florida: -7.17%
Massachusetts: -8.41%
California: -11.75%
These decreases across the country could affect local economies and communities that rely on the cultural, educational, and economic contributions of BridgeUSA participants.
What’s Driving the Decline?
Several factors likely contributed to this drop in participation:
New social media vetting procedures of J-1 visa applicants, implemented in June of 2025, are significantly increasing the time it takes to adjudicate a visa for any given applicant. This additional time is squeezing consular resources and creating fewer available visa interview slots.
Immigration enforcement concerns may be discouraging prospective participants from committing to programs.
Political and economic uncertainties in the U.S. may be influencing both applicants and host organizations.
Looking Ahead
BridgeUSA programs have long served as a cornerstone of both U.S. public diplomacy efforts and economic success. Reversing these declines will require coordinated efforts from government agencies, partner organizations, and host communities to ensure that the U.S. remains an attractive and accessible destination for young people and professionals worldwide.
