College enrollment nationwide shows signs of stabilizing, though Pa. decline continued at a sharper rate
While overall enrollment declined .6%. the number of freshmen grew by 4.3%, or 97,000 students, and growth came at all sectors, including community colleges, private schools and public universities.
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While college enrollment declined slightly last fall nationwide, there were promising signs of a post-pandemic rebound, particularly among freshmen.
The number of freshmen grew by 4.3%, or 97,000 students, and growth came at all sectors, including community colleges, private schools, and public universities, according to the National Student Clearinghouse, which regularly reports on college enrollments.
“This is a very promising sign for higher education after two straight years in which the number of new entering students sat at 10% below pre-pandemic levels,” said Doug Shapiro, vice president for research and executive director for the national group. “It’s very encouraging to start seeing signs of recovery here, even though there’s still a long way to go before freshmen classes return to their 2019 levels.”
» READ MORE: Here are fall 2022 enrollment numbers for Philly-area colleges and universities
Freshmen enrollment nationally is still 6% — or 150,000 students — lower than it was in 2019.
There were variations around the country. Pennsylvania was down 1.4% in overall college enrollment and 2% in just undergraduate enrollment. New Jersey fared better: up 2% in overall enrollment and 1.1% in undergraduate enrollment.
The variation could be due to enrollment decreases in four-year colleges and community colleges in Pennsylvania. Public four-year universities fell 4.1%, while community colleges dropped 2.1%. Meanwhile, in New Jersey, four-year public colleges saw a 2.3% increase in enrollment and community colleges a 3.3% increase.
But there was good news for Pennsylvania: Private four-year colleges saw 2% growth.
Locally, 13 of 32 local colleges queried by The Inquirer last fall reported that their overall enrollment was down from fall 2021 (although many had seen a larger freshman class), six cited an increase, seven said they were roughly the same, and six did not answer.
» READ MORE: Enrollment at area colleges is increasing, although many still aren’t at pre-pandemic levels
Other trends that emerged from the national report include:
Overall enrollment nationwide fell by 94,000 students, or 0.6%. That compares with a 2.1% decline a year ago and a 3.4% decline in 2020, the first year of the pandemic. Enrollment is down 5.8%, or 1.1 million, from 2019.
Graduate enrollment this fall is down, by 39,000 students, or 1.2%, compared with fall 2021. The decline follows two years of growth during the pandemic.
Fewer white students are attending college. White student enrollment fell 2.4% among freshmen, while Latino, Asian, and Native American student enrollment grew between 7% to 8%, and Black student enrollment held relatively steady. In overall enrollment, white students fell by 3.6% while Hispanic and Asian enrollment rose, and Black enrollment fell by nearly 2%.
Computer and information sciences enrollment is booming, growing by 10%, or 54,000 students, from fall 2021. Business majors also grew slightly, while health professions, liberal arts, biological sciences, and engineering fell.