At the end of every semester, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center releases postsecondary enrollment statistics drawn from data submitted by 97 percent of Title IV, degree-granting institutions. Here is a list of some of the interesting statistics included in the report released on May 30:
- Overall postsecondary enrollment decreased 1.7 percent from the previous spring. In real numbers, this is a decline of 300,000 students.
- Undergraduate enrollment decreased by 2.3 percent, while graduate enrollment increased by 2.0%.
- Enrollments increased 3.2 percent at four-year private nonprofit institutions, but the increase is attributed to the conversion of Grand Canyon University from a for-profit institution to nonprofit.
- Enrollment in four-year private nonprofit institutions with less than 3,000 headcount declined by 0.8 percent.
- Graduate enrollment in four-year private nonprofit institutions increased 5.8 percent, but again this may be due to Grand Canyon University becoming a nonprofit institution.
- Despite the initiatives of some state governments to increase enrollment in 2-year public institutions (to provide “free college”), their enrollment actually declined 3.4 percent.
- Women outnumber men in postsecondary enrollment by 2.8 million. Women make up 58 percent of enrollment. For 40 years, women have been the majority of postsecondary enrollment.
- Male enrollment decreased by 2.8 percent from the previous spring (212,000 fewer men!), while female enrollment decreased by only 0.8 percent.
- The states with the biggest percentage decline in enrollment were Alaska and Florida, both decreasing by 5.2 percent.
- Tennessee’s enrollment increased by 1.4 percent. It was one of eleven states than had an increase in enrollment.
The following instructional programs experienced the biggest decreases in enrollment at four-year institutions:
- Personal and Culinary Services (-16.7%)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (-7.1%)
- English Language and Literature/Letters (-4.8%)
- Philosophy and Religious Studies (-4.7%)
- Physical Sciences (-4.6%)
- Theology and Religious Vocations (-4.5%)
The following instructional programs experienced the biggest increases in enrollment at four-year institutions:
- Science Technologies/Technicians (6.4%)
- Transportation and Moving Materials (6.2%)
- Construction Trades (5.7%)
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (5.4%)
- Architecture and Related Services (4.5%)
Analyses of this report can read at Marketwatch and The Chronicle of Higher Education.
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