Lori Meadows
The number of graduate students in the United States has been steadily increasing over the years. In 2024, there were approximately 19.625 million postsecondary students enrolled in the US, with 17.1% of them pursuing graduate programs. This trend continued during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a slight increase in graduate student enrollment. The number of female college attendees has doubled since 1976, and they continue to outnumber men, with 1.9 million women and 1.1 million men enrolled in graduate programs in 2024. California has the highest number of enrolled college students at 2.487 million, followed by New York and Texas, with over a million each.
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What You'll Learn
Graduate student enrollment increased after the pandemic
Graduate student enrollment in the US has indeed increased after the pandemic. In the fall of 2023, graduate student numbers grew by 0.7% compared to 2022. This is part of a wider trend of college enrollment increases for the first time since the pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the decline in undergraduate enrollment, but graduate student numbers were not affected in the same way. In fact, graduate student enrollment increased slightly in the years following the pandemic. This trend continued, and by 2024, graduate student enrollment was up by 1% compared to 2021.
The overall college enrollment decline began to rebound in 2024, with undergraduate enrollment rates increasing for the first time since before the pandemic. This was also the first year that college enrollment trended up, with every US state except Nebraska and Vermont experiencing an increase in student numbers. Utah saw the greatest increase in college enrollments, with a 12% rise.
The enrollment rebound was not entirely unexpected, as more students applied to colleges for 2023-24 than the previous academic year. However, the dip in the number of freshmen was surprising, with a 3.6% decline. This was largely due to losses at four-year institutions, with competitive, very competitive, and highly selective colleges experiencing the biggest drops in freshmen numbers.
The number of students enrolled in online courses spiked during the pandemic, and the number of online learners remains higher than in pre-pandemic years.
Graduate Student Population at Salisbury University
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17.1% of postsecondary students are in graduate programs
In the United States, 17.1% of postsecondary students are in graduate programs, while the remaining 82.9% are undergraduates. This translates to about 1.9 million women and 1.1 million men enrolled in graduate programs, with women outnumbering men in college since 1979. In the fall of 2021, female students made up 61% of total postbaccalaureate enrollment, while male students made up 39%. Between 2010 and 2021, female enrollment increased by 14%, while male enrollment increased by 3%.
Graduate student enrollment increased slightly in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, while undergraduate enrollment decreased. In the fall of 2024, an estimated 8.7 million women and 6.4 million men were enrolled in undergraduate programs. About 36% of undergraduate students and 31% of graduate students attend part-time. Graduate students are generally older than undergraduates, with 57% under 30 years old, compared to 16% of undergraduates (about 2.6 million) who are aged 30 or older.
In terms of race and ethnicity, there is no single racial majority among college students. White students constitute the largest group, comprising 40% of undergraduates and 41% of graduates. Hispanic students are the second-largest group, accounting for 19% of undergraduates and 10% of graduate students. Notably, a substantial number of students, 18% of undergraduates and 15% of graduate students, did not disclose their race or ethnicity.
Postsecondary enrollment in the fall of 2022 was about 19 million students, a 10% decrease from 2012. During the coronavirus pandemic, total postbaccalaureate enrollment increased by 5% from 2019 to 2021, continuing a trend observed in the preceding decade. By 2031, postbaccalaureate enrollment is projected to increase by another 6%.
University of Houston: Grad Student Population Insights
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1.9 million women enrolled in graduate programs
Women have outnumbered men in college since 1979, and the number of female college attendees has doubled since 1976. In the fall of 2024, there were an estimated 8.7 million women enrolled in undergraduate programs, compared to 6.4 million men. In graduate programs, there were about 1.9 million women and 1.1 million men. This means that 61% of graduate students were women, and 39% were men.
Women are more likely to pursue higher education than men. In 2022, 66% of female high school graduates immediately enrolled in college, compared to 57.2% of male graduates. Female students were 94.1% more likely to immediately matriculate and 65% more likely to enroll in four-year institutions. This trend has been consistent over the years, with female students being 86.4% more likely to attend four-year institutions compared to male students in the class of 2021.
Women are also more likely to complete their degrees than men. Among first-time, full-time bachelor's degree seekers, females are 32.3% more likely to complete their degrees at the institution they first enrolled in and within six years. Additionally, 58.5% of bachelor's degrees, 62.6% of associate's degrees, and 62.8% of master's degrees are conferred to women.
The representation of women in college has increased by 22.6% since 1976. However, it is important to note that demographic statistics are imperfect as they do not always capture the complexities of various identities. For example, data on non-binary, transgender, and intersex students is limited, and historical data may use obsolete definitions and terminology.
Despite the limitations of demographic data, it is clear that women are pursuing higher education at higher rates than men and are more likely to complete their degrees. This trend is reflected in the number of women enrolled in graduate programs, with 1.9 million women pursuing advanced degrees.
Graduate Student Population at Princeton University
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11% of graduate students are Hispanic
In the United States, graduate students make up 17.1% of postsecondary students. While there is no single racial majority among college students, Hispanics and Latinos comprise the second-largest group, accounting for 20.3% of the total student population.
Among graduate students, Hispanics and Latinos represent a smaller proportion, estimated at around 9% to 10%. This equates to approximately 282,940 Hispanic and Latino graduate students. Notably, the percentage of Hispanic and Latino college students has increased significantly since 1976, rising by 483%.
Hispanic Americans have witnessed the most rapid growth in advanced degrees compared to other major racial or ethnic groups. Between 2000 and 2021, there was a 291% surge in the number of Hispanic women attaining advanced degrees, while a 199% increase was observed among Hispanic men. As of 2021, approximately 290,000 more Hispanic women held graduate degrees than their male counterparts.
The increasing educational attainment among Hispanics coincides with their population growth. In 2021, the U.S. population included about 63.5 million people who identified as Hispanic or Latino, constituting roughly 19.1% of the total population. The share of college students aged 18 to 24 who were Hispanic rose from 11.4% in 2006 to nearly 20% in 2021. This increase is particularly notable given the relatively young Hispanic population, with a median age of 30.5 years in 2021.
In summary, while Hispanics and Latinos comprise around 11% of graduate students in the United States, their representation in higher education has been growing. This trend aligns with the broader increase in the Hispanic population and their improving educational outcomes.
Chicago's Grad Student Population: A Comprehensive Overview
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31% of graduate students attend part-time
Graduate student enrollment in the US has been on an interesting trajectory. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, undergraduate enrollment took a hit, but graduate student enrollment witnessed a slight uptick. This trend continued, and by fall 2023, college enrollment was on the rise again. Notably, in fall 2024, first-year student enrollment increased by 5.5% compared to the previous year, with stronger enrollment gains among older first-year students aged 21 and above.
When it comes to part-time graduate students, approximately 31% of graduate students in the US attend part-time. This equates to roughly 1 million students. Part-time students are more likely to be older, and this trend holds true for graduate students as well. While graduate students are generally older than undergraduates, the majority (57%) are still under 30. This indicates that a significant portion of graduate students juggle their studies with other commitments, such as work or family responsibilities.
The decision to attend graduate school part-time can be influenced by various factors. For some, financial considerations play a role. Part-time students may need to balance their studies with full-time employment to support themselves. Additionally, personal circumstances or family obligations might prompt students to opt for a part-time schedule. This allows them to spread out their course load over a more extended period, providing flexibility to manage other aspects of their lives.
The availability of online learning options has also influenced the rise in part-time graduate students. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift towards online education, and even after the pandemic, the number of online learners remained higher. Online courses offer greater flexibility, accommodating those who cannot attend classes in person due to work, family, or other commitments. This accessibility has likely contributed to the growing number of part-time graduate students.
The demographic makeup of part-time graduate students in the US is also worth considering. While data on the breakdown of part-time graduate students by gender, race, age, and income is limited, we do know that overall, women outnumber men in college, including graduate programs. Additionally, there is a direct correlation between college enrollment and neighborhood income levels, with nearly one-third of traditionally aged undergraduate students coming from the top quintile of wealth.
Graduate Students at North Carolina State University: A Snapshot
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Frequently asked questions
There are about 1 million graduate students in the US who attend college part-time. In total, there are 1.9 million women and 1.1 million men enrolled in graduate programs.
In Fall 2022, about 19 million students attended colleges and universities (including non-degree-granting institutions).
The US ranks 10th in college graduation rates worldwide.
About 6.7 million students attend college part-time.
The majority of graduate students (57%) are under 30. About 10% of undergraduate students are 17 or younger, and 16% are aged 30 or older.
