Is college enrollment declining?

College enrollment among young Americans has been declining gradually over the past decade. In 2022, the total number of 18- to 24-year-olds enrolled in college was down by approximately 1.2 million from its peak in 2011. Most of the decline is due to fewer young men pursuing college.

Is college becoming less popular?

College Enrollment Decline: 1980s-2020s

In fall 2021, about 15.4 million students were enrolled in college. Between 1985-2010, college enrollment increased at an average rate of 2.2% a year. From 2011-2021, it decreased at an average rate of 1.6% a year. In 2021, it was 14.6% down from peak enrollment in 2010.

Is college enrollment down in 2023?

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Overall college enrollment surged by 2.1 percent in fall 2023 compared to last year's decrease of 0.9 percent, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

What is causing the decline in college enrollment?

High school students account for 1 in 5 community college students nationally. Making these big changes costs money. But state funding hasn't kept pace with rising costs, leaving colleges to rely increasingly on tuition to meet their budgets (which makes them more vulnerable to enrollment declines).

Why are college admission rates going down?

A greater number of under-qualified candidates have started applying to these prestigious institutions. This means that the plummeting of acceptance rates are more likely due to the increase in number of applicants with more diverse qualifications than a sharp increase in selectivity.

U.S. undergraduate enrollment continues to drop

Why is it so hard to get into college nowadays?

Together, these factors–the increases in selectivity, the focus on rankings, the intensified stress on test scores, the lack of clarity around each school's enrollment priorities–has made the college admissions landscape feel treacherous, littered with obstacles to potentially thwart applicants' aspirations.

What university has the lowest acceptance rate 2023?

Are bachelor's degrees depreciating?

“The value of traditional CVs and resumes is rapidly fading as the value of educational certifications and degrees in the workplace is gradually diminishing.” The overall value of university and college degrees are decreasing because: degrees are no longer a guarantee of a getting a job.

What percent of Americans go to college?

As previously stated, around 44% of Americans 25 and older have attended college and completed their degree programs. The grand majority of these degree-holders possess a bachelor's degree. 35% of those over 25 have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is higher education enrollment declining?

Between 2019 and 2022, enrollment in UC, the state's most selective public university, increased by 2%, while CSU experienced a 6% decline. CCC enrollment dropped by 17%—accelerating a trend driven by stalled population growth, K–12 enrollment declines, and a strong labor market, among other factors.

What is the enrollment trend in 2023?

Current Term Enrollment Estimates: Fall 2023

Public and private nonprofit 4-year institutions both saw smaller increases of 0.6 percent (+38,000 and +16,000, respectively). Over two-thirds of states saw undergraduate enrollment growth this fall.

What is the trend in college enrollment?

After three years of slight gains, enrollment at public four-year universities in California dipped 1.6% over the last year. That puts it at 736,811 students, or 1,189 students fewer than Spring 2019 levels.

Is college really worth it nowadays?

Ultimately, whether college is worth the cost will depend on factors like your career and life goals and whether you'll need to take out student loans. While a college degree is still associated with greater earnings and wealth over a lifetime, the upfront cost is not worth it for many students.

Is college losing value?

College is a good investment

By 2021, the difference had grown to 62 percent (and closer to 90% for workers with graduate degrees). Currently, California workers with a bachelor's degree earn a median annual wage of $81,000.

Who is less likely to go to college?

Men are less likely to enroll in college than women and have been for the last two decades, according to the Pew Research Center. Only 36% of men ages 25-34 surveyed in 2021 had a college degree, compared to 46% of women. Area college enrollment numbers follow this trend.

What is the most educated race in the United States?

Asian Americans had the highest educational attainment of any race, followed by whites who had a higher percentage of high school graduates but a lower percentage of college graduates. Persons identifying as Hispanic or Latino, without regard to race, had the lowest educational attainment.

How educated is the average American?

28% had high school as their highest level of school completed. 15% had completed some college but not a degree. 10% had an associate degree as their highest level of school completed. 23% had a bachelor's degree as their highest degree.

Which degrees are the most valuable?

Students who pursue a degree specifically in computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or economics — mostly STEM disciplines — earn the most overall, according to a new analysis of bachelor's degrees and median earnings by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Do employers still value degrees?

There are certain fields that you absolutely cannot work in without higher education (healthcare, for example). Most hiring executives still value higher education on an applicant's resume. According to AAC&U, 82% of business executives and 75% of hiring managers feel that a college degree is necessary for success.

What is the regret rate for degrees?

10 most-regretted majors: After graduation, 'reality hits'

Still, 44% of all job seekers with college degrees regret their field of study.

What degree is worth getting?

STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) degrees dominate the list of collegiate programs that lead to top-paying careers. While some bachelor's degrees in the humanities and social sciences don't typically offer high salaries, they can provide a foundation for a graduate degree and a more lucrative career.

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

Niche, a ranking and review site, recently published its list of the “2023 Hardest Colleges to Get Into.” Using data from the U.S. Department of Education on various colleges' acceptance rates and SAT/ACT scores, they found, unsurprisingly, Harvard University to be the most difficult college to get into.

What is the easiest college to get into?