Us College And University Enrollment Figures Revealed

The number of students attending colleges and universities in the US has been on a general decline over the past decade. In fall 2023, there were roughly 18.1 million students enrolled in degree-granting colleges and universities in the US. This is a slight decrease from the previous year, which saw around 20.4 million students enrolled as undergraduates. The number of undergraduate students in the US has been decreasing since fall 2010, with 42% of this decline occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Undergraduate vs graduate student numbers

According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC), there were around 18 million students enrolled in US colleges in Fall 2023, with about 15.2 million of these enrolled in an undergraduate program and 3.1 million in a graduate-level program. This means that graduate students make up around 17% of all postsecondary students.

Undergraduate student numbers

In Fall 2023, there were 8.5 million students pursuing a bachelor's degree and 4.4 million getting associate degrees. This means that bachelor's degrees are more popular than associate programs, with 65% of college students enrolled at the undergraduate level.

Undergraduate enrollment has been declining, with a 5.6% decrease from Fall 2019 to Fall 2023. However, the number of students enrolled in undergraduate programs is still high compared to historical figures. Enrollment peaked in 2010 at 21.02 million and has been declining since.

Graduate student numbers

In Fall 2023, there were 3.1 million students enrolled in graduate programs such as master's programs, doctoral degrees, professional studies, and graduate-level certificate programs. Graduate enrollment has been increasing, with a 4.8% increase from Fall 2019 to Fall 2023.

Demographic breakdown

Women make up 55% of undergraduate students and nearly 60% of graduate students. In terms of race and ethnicity, there is no one racial majority among undergraduate students. However, white students are the largest racial group, with 53% of undergraduate and graduate students identifying as white in 2021.

Public vs private college attendance

In the US, there are approximately 18 million students enrolled in colleges and universities. In 2022, there were around 13.49 million students enrolled in public colleges and 5.09 million enrolled in private colleges.

Public colleges are mainly funded by state governments, while private colleges rely on tuition fees, alumni donations, and endowments. Private colleges are typically much more expensive, but they may offer generous financial aid. Public colleges usually offer different tuition fees for in-state and out-of-state students, whereas private colleges charge the same tuition fees regardless of residency.

Public colleges tend to have larger student bodies and offer a wider array of programs. Private colleges, especially liberal arts colleges, tend to offer fewer academic majors but may provide a specialized focus in certain fields. Public universities often have superior research facilities and labs due to their government funding.

Private colleges are generally better suited for students who need more direction and supervision, as the smaller campus and class sizes allow for closer relationships with academic advisors and professors. Private colleges often have smaller, more intimate learning environments, while public colleges have a reputation for larger class sizes and less one-on-one interaction between students and professors.

Public colleges have a wider variety of extracurricular activities and athletic programs, with more diverse student bodies due to their higher acceptance rates and more affordable tuition costs. Private colleges, on the other hand, often have more geographically diverse student bodies due to their uniform tuition rates.

Full-time vs part-time students

The number of students enrolled in colleges and universities in the US varies depending on the source and year of measurement. In fall 2023, there were roughly 18.1 million students enrolled in degree-granting colleges and universities in the US. Another source, also citing data from fall 2023, puts the number at approximately 18.58 million. A third source, citing data from fall 2022, states that there were 15.397 million undergraduate students nationwide.

Full-time and part-time students face different challenges and opportunities. One of the biggest decisions a student has to make is whether to enrol in college part-time or full-time. Work and family responsibilities, financial situations, and other commitments can all play a role in that decision.

Definition

The main difference between a part-time and full-time student is the number of credits they take each semester. Typically, part-time undergraduate students take 11 or fewer credits per semester, while part-time graduate students take less than nine credits. In contrast, full-time undergraduates usually take a minimum of 12 credits a semester, and graduate students typically require a minimum of nine credits to enrol full-time.

Enrollment Numbers

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), of the 19.6 million students attending colleges and universities in fall 2019, 7.7 million were part-time students. In fall 2019, of the 3.1 million students in graduate programs, 1.7 million were enrolled full-time.

Benefits and Challenges

Full-time students tend to have greater upfront tuition fees and less time to work or take care of other obligations. However, they have more financial aid opportunities and are more likely to graduate due to higher retention rates. On the other hand, part-time students may have to juggle the demands of school and other commitments, and they usually have an extended graduation timeline. They may also have to take courses on weekends or in the evenings, limiting their networking opportunities and access to student services and resources. Nonetheless, part-time students often have more time for work, allowing them to earn a wage to fund their education and living expenses.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time students usually pay an annual or semester-based tuition rate, which can be more expensive upfront. However, many schools charge a flat rate for 12-18 credits per semester, saving students who take more credits money. Part-time students usually pay per credit, which can result in lower tuition fees each semester but higher overall costs over a longer period. Part-time students may also have more access to employer tuition reimbursement programmes.

Financial aid and scholarship eligibility can also be affected by enrolment status. Most programmes require a minimum of half-time enrolment (six credits per semester) to qualify for financial aid. Additionally, the amount of aid received is often based on the number of credits taken.

Online learning statistics

Popularity of Online Learning

Online learning has exploded in popularity. It can be done anywhere, at any time, and is just as effective as in-person learning. In fact, online learning can increase student retention rates by as much as 60%. Online learning can also reduce the time needed to learn a subject by 40% to 60%.

The number of online learners is expected to grow to nearly 60 million people in the near future. In 2022, about 10 million college students in the US took at least one online class, with 54% of college students taking distance education courses. This is a slight decrease from 2021, when 60% of college students took at least one online class.

Benefits of Online Learning

Online learning offers several benefits to students, including:

• Increased flexibility: 63% of students choose to study online because of the flexibility it offers.
• Improved retention: Online learning can increase student retention rates by up to 60%.
• Reduced time: Online learning can reduce the time needed to learn a subject by 40% to 60%.
• Improved performance: 8 in 10 students claim that digital technology helps them improve their grades.
• Cost savings: Online learning can be more cost-effective for students.
• Black students: Black students make up 23.3% of students at primarily online colleges, compared to just 12.5% of all college students.
• Pacific Islander students: 14% of Pacific Islander college students attend primarily online colleges, the highest percentage among all racial groups.
• White students: White students attend online and traditional colleges at approximately the same rate (around 6%).
• Hispanic and Asian students: Hispanic and Asian learners make up a larger percentage of the traditional college student body compared to online colleges.

Online Learning Costs

The cost of online learning can vary depending on the type of institution and the student's residency status. Here are some key statistics on online learning costs:

• Public online colleges: Public online colleges charge a higher median tuition rate for in-state learners than all public colleges.
• Private nonprofit online colleges: Online learners can save money by choosing a private nonprofit college, as the median cost is lower than that of traditional private nonprofit colleges.
• Private for-profit online colleges: Private for-profit online colleges are more expensive than their public counterparts, with an average cost of $19,290 per year.
• Average net cost: The average net cost of online college is about $570 per credit hour.

Online Learning and the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted remote learning, with many schools shifting to remote learning models. During the pandemic, 75% of colleges operated completely online. Since then, campuses have reopened, and the number of students participating in online classes has decreased. However, distance learning and fully online degree programs remain popular options.

Male vs female student numbers

The number of students enrolled in colleges and universities in the US has been generally declining over the past decade. In fall 2023, almost 18.1 million students were enrolled in degree-granting colleges and universities in the US. Of these, about 15.2 million were enrolled in an undergraduate program, and roughly 3.1 million were enrolled in a graduate-level program.

Women have outnumbered men in US colleges and universities since 1979. In fall 2023, over 10.1 million women were enrolled in college, compared to 7.2 million men. Women made up 55% of undergraduate students and nearly 60% of graduate students.

In spring 2023, the average age of full-time undergraduate students was about 22.5. Part-time, graduate, and professional students tend to be older than full-time undergraduates.

In fall 2021, female students made up 58% of total undergraduate enrollment (8.9 million students), and male students made up 42% (6.5 million students). Between 2010 and 2021, male enrollment decreased by 17% (from 7.8 million to 6.5 million students) and female enrollment decreased by 13% (from 10.2 million to 8.9 million students).

In 2022, there were about 6.57 million male students enrolled in degree-granting postsecondary institutions as undergraduates, compared to 8.82 million female undergraduate students.

In 2021, 53% of undergraduate and graduate students were white. In fall 2021, 7.8 million undergraduate students were White, 3.3 million were Hispanic, 1.9 million were Black, 1.1 million were Asian, 663,100 were of Two or more races, 107,000 were American Indian/Alaska Native, and 41,000 were Pacific Islander.

In 2021, 65% of women who started a four-year degree at a US university in 2012 had graduated by 2018, compared with 59% of their male counterparts.

Frequently asked questions