Undergraduate enrollment is up slightly this fall, marking the second straight year of growth, the latest numbers from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center show.
But enrollment of first-year students fell by 5% compared to last fall, with the largest decreases occurring at public (-8.5%) and private (-6.5%) nonprofits. The downturn was exacerbated by a nearly 6% decline in the number of 18-year-old students enrolling upon high school graduation, according to the Clearinghouse’s Stay Informed report.
“It is startling to see such a substantial drop in freshmen, the first decline since the start of the pandemic in 2020 when they plunged nearly 10%,” said Doug Shapiro, executive director of the research center. “But the gains among students either continuing from last year or returning from prior stop outs are keeping overall undergraduate numbers growing, especially at community colleges.”
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This fall’s 3% undergraduate enrollment increase was driven by non-first-year students and dual-enrolled high school students. Bachelor’s and associate degree programs both grew, by 1.9% and 4.3%, respectively. Graduate programs expanded by 2.1%.
More Hispanic, Black, Asian and multiracial undergraduates and graduates enrolled this fall while the number of white undergraduate students fell slightly.
The report also found:
- The number of students pursuing short-term credentials is continuing to grow rapidly, with enrollment in undergraduate certificate programs increasing by 7.3%.
- Traditional-aged undergraduate students from neighborhoods of all income levels are seeing enrollment increases. However, freshman enrollment is showing the reverse trend, declining across all neighborhood income levels, with those from middle-income neighborhoods seeing the largest drops at public and private nonprofit 4-year institutions.
- Freshman enrollment is declining among students of all races and ethnicities, with notable losses among white (-11.4%), Black (-6.1%), and multiracial (-6.6%) first-time students. Declines for Hispanic and Asian freshmen are relatively muted (-1.4% and -2.8%).
- Community colleges are experiencing smaller freshman enrollment declines (-0.4%). First-time enrollment at these institutions is bolstered by part-time starters (+3.4%), while enrollment of full-time starters is declining (-2.7%). In contrast, in fall 2023, full-time freshman enrollment had increased by 3.4% at these community colleges.
