Douglas Olsen
University attendance in the USA has fluctuated over the years, with postsecondary enrollment peaking in 2010 at 21.02 million. In 2022, there were approximately 18.58 million college students in the US, with 13.49 million enrolled in public colleges and 5.09 million in private colleges. The number of students enrolled in colleges and universities in the US is estimated to reach 19.25 million, with 15.2 million enrolled in undergraduate programs and 3.1 million in graduate-level programs. California has the highest number of enrolled college students at 2.487 million, while Alaska has the smallest student population at 22,152.
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What You'll Learn
University enrolment statistics by gender
In 2022, there were approximately 18.58 million college students in the United States. Of these, 13.49 million were enrolled in public colleges, and 5.09 million were enrolled in private colleges. The number of students enrolled in college has been declining since 2010, when it peaked at 21.02 million. This decline is attributed to factors such as the cost of higher education, with some students opted to delay college attendance to build savings.
When it comes to gender, women outnumber men in college, a trend that has been consistent since 1979. In fall 2024, an estimated 8.7 million women and 6.4 million men were enrolled in undergraduate programs. This gender distribution is reflected in graduate programs as well, with approximately 1.9 million women and 1.1 million men enrolled. Overall, among all postsecondary students, 42.1% are male, and 57.9% are female.
The gender gap in college enrollment rates is more pronounced when looking at specific age groups. For 18- to 24-year-olds, the college enrollment rate in 2022 was 44% for females and 34% for males, a 10-percentage point difference. This gap has remained relatively stable since 2012. When examined by race/ethnicity, the enrollment rate for females was higher than for males among White and Hispanic 18- to 24-year-olds in every year since 2012. For Black 18- to 24-year-olds, the female enrollment rate was higher in 6 out of the last 11 years, with no measurable difference in the remaining years. Notably, there was no measurable difference in enrollment rates between females and males among Asian 18- to 24-year-olds in any year during this period.
It is important to acknowledge the limitations in gender representation beyond the standard binary. The available data primarily focuses on male and female categories, with a significant portion of students choosing not to disclose their gender or identifying as non-binary, transgender, or intersex. As data collection policies evolve, more inclusive representations of gender in college enrollment statistics may become available in the future.
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University enrolment statistics by race
University enrolment statistics paint a picture of the demographic makeup of students in the USA. In 2022, there were approximately 18.58 million college students in the US, with around 13.49 million enrolled in public colleges and 5.09 million in private colleges. California had the highest number of enrolled college students at 2.487 million, while Alaska had the smallest student population with 22,152 students.
Gender
Women outnumber men in college, with approximately 8.7 million women and 6.4 million men enrolled in undergraduate programs in 2024. This trend has been consistent since 1979. Female students are also more likely to attend four-year institutions compared to males, and are more likely to complete their degrees within six years. 58.5% of bachelor's degrees are conferred to females, and women also earn more associate's and master's degrees than men.
Race
The racial breakdown of college students in the US is as follows:
- 52.3% of students are White or Caucasian (including a slight increase in American Indian and Alaska Native students, who make up 0.69% of the student population)
- 20.3% are Hispanic or Latino (an increase of 483% since 1976)
- 7.39% are Asian or Asian American
- 4.34% are multiracial
- 5.2% are nonresident non-citizens
The rate of enrollment of students of color has increased significantly, from 15.36% in 1976 to 45.23% in 2022. However, recent reports indicate that overall college enrollment is on a downward trajectory, with more Americans forgoing higher education due to financial difficulties or the need to earn a living.
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University enrolment statistics by age
University enrolment statistics in the United States vary across different age groups. As of 2024, it is projected that 67.2% of college students will be aged 24 years and younger. A further breakdown of these statistics shows that 26.84% of enrolled students are aged 18 to 19, 38.52% are aged 20 to 24, 9.19% are aged 25 to 29, 5.71% are aged 30 to 34, 3.72% are aged 35 to 39, and 4.1% are aged 40 to 49. These numbers indicate that college enrolment rates are higher among younger age groups, with a significant drop-off in enrolment rates for individuals in their thirties and beyond.
Among Americans aged 25 years and older, 37.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This statistic captures individuals who may have obtained their degrees without attending college at the traditional age or those who completed their degrees without enrolling in a subsequent graduate program.
Historical data reveals a continuous rise in college enrolment from 1970 to 2010, followed by a gradual decline from 2010 to 2020 and a steeper drop after 2020, likely influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite recent declines, the number of college students in the United States is estimated to reach 19.25 million, with Spring undergraduate enrolment increasing by 2.5%.
The impact of the pandemic is also evident in the shift towards distance education. In Fall 2023, 60% of total students enrolled in colleges were enrolled in at least one distance education course, and 30% were enrolled exclusively in online courses. This trend is reflected in the increase in online undergraduate learners during the pandemic, with the number of online learners remaining higher than in pre-pandemic years.
Enrolment gains have been stronger among older first-year students, with a 16.7% increase for those aged 21-24 and a 19.7% increase for those aged 25 and older, compared to a 3.4% increase for traditionally aged first-year students. Additionally, the number of undergraduate students in their twenties increased in Spring 2022, marking a recovery after consistent declines since the pandemic.
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University enrolment statistics by state
University enrolment statistics differ significantly across the various states in the USA. As of 2024, California had the highest number of enrolled college students at approximately 2.487 million, a 97.8% increase relative to 1970. New York and Texas are the only other states with over a million college students enrolled. On the other end of the spectrum, Alaska has the smallest student population, with 22,152 students enrolled, although this represents a 112.7% increase relative to 1970. Wyoming, Montana, and Vermont all have fewer than 50,000 enrolled college students.
Since 2010, 45 states have seen a decline in postsecondary enrolment. New Hampshire, Utah, and Idaho have witnessed the largest increases in enrolment rates relative to 2010, at 184.01%, 56.94%, and 47%, respectively. In contrast, Iowa and Alaska experienced the most significant decreases in enrolment since 2010, losing 47% and 42.1% of their student populations, respectively. Utah stood out as the state with the greatest increase in college enrolments between 2023 and 2024, surging by 12%.
The distribution of students across different types of institutions also varies. Public four-year universities enrol the highest number of college students (7.9 million), closely followed by public two-year colleges (4.8 million) and private nonprofit four-year colleges (4.1 million). Approximately 1 million students attend primarily associate-degree-granting baccalaureate institutions (PABs), and a similar number are enrolled in for-profit four-year colleges.
Demographic factors also play a role in university enrolment. In terms of gender, about 8.7 million women and 6.4 million men were enrolled in undergraduate programs in fall 2024. Approximately 1.9 million women and 1.1 million men pursued graduate programs. Additionally, 6% of college students, roughly 1 million, did not disclose their gender. Enrolment patterns also vary among different racial and ethnic groups. For instance, 0.69% of students identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, while 7.39% identify as Asian or Asian American.
Part-time attendance is another factor to consider in university enrolment statistics. Approximately 6.7 million students attend college part-time, comprising 5.7 million undergraduates and 1 million graduate students. This translates to 36% of undergraduates and 31% of graduate students attending on a part-time basis.
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University enrolment statistics by type of institution
University enrolment statistics in the USA vary according to the type of institution. The total number of students enrolled in US colleges in 2022 was approximately 18.58 million, with 13.49 million enrolled in public colleges and 5.09 million in private colleges.
Public Colleges
Public colleges are the most popular type of institution, with 73.2% of college students at all education levels attending these institutions. Public four-year universities are the most common type of college, with 7.9 million students enrolled. This is followed by public two-year colleges, with 4.8 million students. 56.7% of students enrolled in public colleges are female, and 42.1% are male.
Private Colleges
Of the undergraduates who attend private colleges (5.16 million), 78.4% attend nonprofit schools. About 1 million students attend for-profit four-year colleges.
Other Types of Institutions
Around 1 million students are enrolled at primarily associate-degree granting baccalaureate institutions (PABs), which mostly offer two-year programs but may have some bachelor's degree programs.
Part-Time Students
About 6.7 million students attend college part-time, including 5.7 million undergraduates and 1 million graduate students.
Online Students
Nearly 5 million college students attend classes fully online. The number of undergraduate students enrolled in online courses spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the number of online learners remains higher than in pre-pandemic years.
Racial Diversity
According to NSCRC estimates, there is no single racial majority among college students. White students are the largest racial or ethnic group, comprising 40% of undergraduates and 41% of graduates. Hispanic students are the next largest group, making up 19% of undergraduates and 10% of graduate students.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2022, there were approximately 18.58 million college students in the USA.
In the 2022-23 academic year, around 20.3 million students were enrolled in undergraduate degrees.
In fall 2023, 3.1 million students were enrolled in graduate programs.
In fall 2023, 13.14 million students were enrolled in public colleges.
In fall 2023, 4.87 million students were enrolled in private colleges.
