It’s the largest drop in 50+ years.
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New data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found that 1.2 million fewer students are enrolled in US colleges now compared to Fall 2019.
In 2021, Fall enrollment fell 3.1% from the previous year, according to the research. Combined with the 2020 enrollment drop, that brings the total decline since Fall 2019 to 6.6%. Per the lead researcher behind the enrollment data, it’s the largest 2-year decrease in more than 50 years.
Not all higher ed sectors have been hit equally, though.
- Associate degree seekers dropped 6.2% in 2021, and 14.1% over the last two years.
- Community colleges have lost around 15% of students since 2019.
- Of the largest majors, liberal arts fell off the hardest, declining 7.6% this year.
Zoom out: US college enrollment has been burning down for the last decade, but the pandemic added some fuel to the fire. The “Covid gap year” that many officials hoped was the primary cause of 2020’s steep decline appears to have been more fiction than fact—only 2% of the high school seniors who chose not to enroll in 2020 ended up enrolling in 2021.
+ While we’re here: After reaching a settlement with 39 states, Navient—one of the largest student loan servicers—will be required to cancel $1.7 billion in private student loans for ~66,000 borrowers.—MK
