Is US college enrollment declining?

Today, fewer people are going to college than in recent years. In 2021, 15.4 million students were enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. That's the lowest fall enrollment since 2006. The NSCRC estimates that even fewer undergraduates were enrolled in spring 2023, just 14.1 million students.

Is college enrollment down in 2023?

Preliminary enrollment data for fall 2023 largely brought good news to colleges and universities. Undergraduate enrollment rose 2.1% compared to the year before, with all major institutional sectors enjoying increases, including four-year institutions and community colleges.

Is there a decline in people going to college?

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.

What is the enrollment trend for 2023?

According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center's “Stay Informed with the Latest Enrollment Information” report, initial numbers show that undergraduate enrollment increased 2.1% for fall 2023 — a jump of about 160,000 students compared to 2022. Graduate enrollment ticked up 0.7% over last year.

Why are college admission rates going down?

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. Additionally, seismic social and political shifts have played a role in the changing college admissions landscape.

U.S. undergraduate enrollment continues to drop

Why are college acceptance rates so low 2023?

App volume – and competition – remain high

The State University of New York (SUNY) system, for example, reported that applications for the Fall 2023 term increased 110% from the previous year. With the increase in applications, admission rates have been on the decline, most notably at highly selective schools.

Why are acceptance rates so low 2023?

This year, the surge in application fueled the trend in highly selective majors at many schools. This means that even if a college has a relatively high acceptance rate, certain majors may have a significantly lower acceptance rate.

Is college attendance increasing?

Enrollment numbers grew by about 5% in the 2022-23 school year, according to data provided by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office.

Why are so many people not going to college?

A college degree just might not be worth it anymore. While higher education has long been viewed as key to achieving the American Dream, surging tuition costs, a hot labor market, and campus politics may be why college enrollment in the US has fallen in the last decade.

Why are so many students not going to college?

“Mental health plays a growing role in a student's decision not to pursue college immediately after high school. Of those who are not planning to attend college, 'I'm not mentally ready' has consistently been a top reason for opting out, behind affordability and value.

Is not going to college a failure?

That being said, you can certainly be successful without a college degree — your skills and talents can get you hired. Find out exactly what skills are needed for your career path and work hard to excel in them. You will have to be determined, self-disciplined, and goal-oriented.

What is the trend in undergraduate enrollment?

Overall, undergraduate enrollment was 15 percent lower in fall 2021 than in fall 2010, with 42 percent of this decline occurring during the pandemic. In contrast, total undergraduate enrollment is projected to increase by 9 percent (from 15.4 million to 16.8 million students) between 2021 and 2031.

What is the lowest acceptance rate college 2023?

How many students are there in the US 2023?

Census Bureau Releases New Data Showing the Highest School Enrollment Count in Years. OCT. 11, 2023 — Total school enrollment experienced a growth of 1.3 million from 2021 to 2022, reaching a total of 75.2 million students enrolled, according to new data from the 2022 Current Population Survey (CPS) released today.

What percentage of US citizens attend college?

In 2021, about 38.1% of all 18-24-year-olds were enrolled in a postsecondary program. College student enrollment has generally declined over the past 10 years. About 63% of college students are enrolled full time. In spring 2023, roughly 58% college students were women.

What percent of Americans have a college degree?

In the Census Bureau's most recent 2022 findings, the percentage of people with a bachelor's degree or higher remained stable from the previous year at around 37.7%. Americans are still prioritizing college and doing so in record numbers.

What state has the most college students?

“The states with the highest numbers of students enrolled in 2022 were California with 2,637,722 students, Texas with 1,681,910 students and New York with 1,197,003 students,” the study said.

What percentage of white Americans go to college?

Racial Diversity in College Enrollment

In the fall of 2022, over 15 million total undergraduate students were enrolled in the U.S. White students made up nearly half of the total undergraduate population at 42%. Hispanic and Latino/a students were the second largest group at 17.5% of the total undergraduate population.

What is the hardest college to go to?

Harvard, Stanford and Princeton, unsurprisingly, are America's toughest colleges to get into in 2023, according to Niche's most recent rankings.

What is the number 1 most applied to college?

UCLA is the most applied-to university in the country.

Why are colleges getting harder to get into?

An increase in a school's applicant pool reduces their admit rate, which then boosts their rankings and enhances the public perception of how “good” that school is. And the greater the selectivity of a college, the more applicants that school attracts, depressing its admit rate even further.

What is the hardest school to get into 2023?

Which university has the lowest acceptance rate?

The lowest admission rates, for the class of 2026, is Harvard University with 3%. Using its data from the class of 2027, the students who are starting this autumn, just 1,942 students were accepted from nearly 60,000 applicants.