Lana Oconnell
The number of students attending public universities in the US has fluctuated over the years, with a recent downward trend observed since the COVID-19 pandemic. In Fall 2024, there were an estimated 7.9 million students enrolled in public four-year universities, making it the most popular choice for students. Public two-year colleges were the second most popular, with 4.8 million students, followed by private nonprofit four-year colleges with 4.1 million students. Overall, the number of colleges in the US has been declining since 2012-2013, particularly in the for-profit sector, due to financial struggles and lower enrollment numbers. Despite this, students still have a vast array of undergraduate options, with nearly 4,000 colleges and universities to choose from.
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What You'll Learn
Undergraduate enrollment trends
Enrollment Numbers and Demographics
In Fall 2024, there were approximately 19.28 million undergraduate students enrolled nationwide, with 72.6% to 74.9% of them attending public institutions. This represents a slight decline from the peak enrollment of 21 million in 2010. Among public colleges, four-year universities had the highest enrollment, with 7.9 million students, followed by two-year colleges with 4.57 to 4.8 million students. The number of female college attendees has doubled since 1976, and in Fall 2024, there were 8.7 million women and 6.4 million men enrolled in undergraduate programs. The share of Hispanic or Latino students has also increased significantly, rising by 483% since 1976.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The years following the COVID-19 pandemic saw a decline in college enrollment, particularly among undergraduates. However, Fall 2023 marked a turning point, with college enrollment trending upwards again. The pandemic's impact on overall enrollment rates highlighted the importance of public universities in promoting economic mobility.
Enrollment at Selective Public Flagships
The 50 most selective US public flagship universities experienced stagnant enrollment growth over the two decades preceding the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, enrollment increased by 18% to 299,353 students in Fall 2018, but the share of in-state students decreased. International student enrollment grew, with 6% of students at public flagships being international in Fall 2018, up from less than 3% in Fall 2000.
Distance Education and Online Learning
The COVID-19 pandemic also accelerated the adoption of distance education and online learning. In Spring 2024, 41% of public 2-year undergraduate students participated exclusively in distance education courses. Additionally, the number of undergraduate students enrolled in online courses spiked during the pandemic, and the number of online learners remains higher than in pre-pandemic years.
Factors Affecting Enrollment
Various factors influence enrollment trends in US public universities. The increase in international student enrollment is attributed to rising incomes in countries like China and India, enabling more families to seek education in the US. Domestic factors, such as declines in state funding, have also played a role, with public research universities turning to international students who pay higher tuition rates. Additionally, neighborhood income correlates with college enrollment, with more students coming from wealthier zip codes.
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Public vs private colleges
Funding and Tuition Fees
The primary difference between public and private colleges is their funding sources. Public universities are funded by state governments, while private colleges are funded by private donors and individuals. This affects tuition prices, as public colleges often offer different fees for in-state and out-of-state students, with lower fees for residents. Private colleges, on the other hand, usually charge the same tuition fees to all students, and these fees tend to be much higher than those at public colleges. Private colleges, despite their higher costs, may have more funds available for grants and scholarships. Public universities often offer small scholarships for good grades, and students can apply for national-level scholarships or those offered by the university.
Size and Degree Offerings
Private colleges tend to be smaller, with fewer students and a more intimate learning environment. They offer a smaller range of majors and degrees, often with a specific academic focus, such as liberal arts, fine arts, engineering, or computer science. In contrast, public universities can be quite large, offering a wider choice of majors and academic programs, ranging from traditional liberal arts to highly specialized technical fields.
Student Demographics and Extracurriculars
Public universities admit a larger number of in-state students, leading to greater geographical diversity at private colleges, where state residency is less crucial. Public colleges often have larger class sizes, which some students may find overwhelming, but professors are usually accessible outside of class and willing to provide extra help. Public colleges also generally have more extracurricular options, including sports, student government, Greek life, and various clubs. Private colleges encourage student involvement in activities, but the groups may be smaller.
Enrollment Trends
In terms of enrollment, undergraduate enrollment has been declining over the past decade, with a slight increase in graduate student enrollment. In Fall 2024, there were 8.7 million women and 6.4 million men enrolled in undergraduate programs, and 1.9 million women and 1.1 million men in graduate programs. Part-time enrollment is also notable, with about 6.7 million students attending college part-time.
To summarize, both public and private colleges offer unique advantages, and students should consider their goals, preferences, and financial circumstances when making their decision.
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Student demographics
In the United States, the majority of postsecondary students enrol in full-time, degree-granting 4-year programs at public institutions. In 2024, there were approximately 13.49 million students enrolled in public colleges out of a total of 18.58 million college students. This number increased to 19.28 million undergraduate students in Fall 2024, with 72.6% of undergraduates enrolling in public institutions. The greatest number of college students are enrolled in public four-year universities (7.9 million), followed by public two-year colleges (4.8 million).
Gender
Women outnumber men in college and have since 1979. In Fall 2024, an estimated 8.7 million women and 6.4 million men were enrolled in undergraduate programs. Among college students enrolled in public schools, 56.7% are female. Overall, 42.1% of postsecondary students are male, and 57.9% are female.
Age
In 2022, about 39% of all 18-24-year-olds were enrolled in a postsecondary program. About 16% of undergraduates are over 30. First-year student enrolments have been increasing more among older students (21-24 and 25+) than among traditional-aged first-year students.
Race
The demographic with the highest attendance growth since 1976 is Hispanic or Latino students, with a 483% increase. In 2024, 20.3% of the student population identified as Hispanic or Latino, and 80.4% of students from this demographic attended public institutions. The second-highest growth since 1976 is seen in Black or African American students, with a 124.9% increase. 13.2% of students identify as Black or African American, and 71.88% of students from this demographic attend public institutions. 7.39% of students identify as Asian or Asian American, and 74.3% of students from this demographic attend public institutions.
Income
College enrolment correlates with neighbourhood income: more college students come from wealthier zip codes.
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Enrollment by gender
In the US, undergraduate enrollment in colleges and universities has been experiencing a downward trend since the coronavirus pandemic. In fall 2021, there were 15.4 million undergraduate students enrolled, 15% lower than in fall 2010. However, it's projected that undergraduate enrollment will increase by 9% from 2021 to 2031.
In fall 2021, female students comprised 58% of total undergraduate enrollment (8.9 million students), while male students made up 42% (6.5 million students). This represented a 13% decrease in female enrollment and a 17% decrease in male enrollment since 2010. However, between 2021 and 2031, both female and male enrollment are projected to increase by 9%.
In fall 2024, an estimated 8.7 million women and 6.4 million men were enrolled in undergraduate programs. This represents a continuation of the trend of women outnumbering men in college, which has been the case since 1979. The number of female college attendees has doubled since 1976, and as a share of total students, female representation has increased by 22.6%. In 2024, 42.7% of enrolled undergraduate students were male, and 57.3% were female. This gender distribution holds true for public institution enrollees, with 78.4% of male students and 76.5% of female students attending public institutions.
In graduate programs, the gender distribution is similar, with 39% male and 61% female enrollment. Among all postsecondary students, graduate and undergraduate, 42.1% are male and 57.9% are female. This represents a significant shift from 1970, when only 41.2% of college students were female.
Female students are also more likely to complete their degrees at the institution they first enrolled in within six years compared to their male counterparts. This is particularly evident in bachelor's degree programs, where 58.5% of degrees are conferred to females. Females also earn 62.6% of associate's degrees and 62.8% of master's degrees.
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Enrollment by race/ethnicity
In the United States, 73.2% of college students at all education levels attend public institutions. Public universities tend to offer different tuition fees for students based on whether they live in-state or out-of-state.
The demographic makeup of college campuses has changed over time, becoming less white and more Hispanic. The share of white students dropped by almost 9 percentage points to 52% in 2020, still a majority. Meanwhile, the share of Hispanic students grew from 14% to 21% in the same period, and the share of Black students remained constant at just under 14%. Asian students increased from 5% to 7% of the college population.
In 2024, 20.3% of the student population was Hispanic or Latino, up 483% since 1976. 4.34% of the college student population identifies as multiracial, an increase of 135% relative to 2010. 74.3% of multiracial students attend public institutions.
Women outnumber men in college and have since 1979. In 2024, an estimated 8.7 million women and 6.4 million men were enrolled in undergraduate programs. About 1.9 million women and 1.1 million men were enrolled in graduate programs. Six percent of college students (roughly 1 million) did not disclose their gender.
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Frequently asked questions
As of Fall 2024, there were 7.9 million students enrolled in public four-year universities, 4.8 million in public two-year colleges, and 1.9 million in public graduate programs. Overall, 73.2% of college students at all education levels attend public institutions.
In Fall 2024, 4.1 million students were enrolled in private nonprofit four-year colleges, and 1 million in for-profit four-year colleges.
College enrollment has generally declined over the past decade, with an 11.6% decrease since its peak in 2009. However, Fall 2024 enrollment increased by 4.5% compared to the previous year, with first-year student enrollment rising by 5.5%. Enrollment gains were stronger among older students aged 21 and above.
In Fall 2024, there were 8.7 million women and 6.4 million men enrolled in undergraduate programs, with 1.9 million women and 1.1 million men in graduate programs. Overall, 60% of currently enrolled students are women.
Between Fall 2010 and Fall 2021, enrollment decreased for American Indian/Alaska Native (down 40%), Pacific Islander (29%), White (28%), and Black (27%) students. Over the same period, the number of Hispanic or Latino students increased by 483%.
