Ibrahim Gardner
The number of university students in the US has fluctuated over the years, influenced by various factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, demographic changes, and the rise of online learning. In 2022, there were approximately 18.58 million college students in the US, with the majority enrolled in public colleges. This number had been declining since 2010, with undergraduate enrollment taking the biggest hit. However, in fall 2024, enrollment rates increased for the first time since the pandemic, with a spike in older first-year students. The US higher education system offers diverse educational paths, including vocational, liberal arts, and comprehensive universities, catering to a wide range of student demographics and preferences.
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What You'll Learn
Undergraduate enrollment statistics
Enrollment Numbers and Trends
The total number of undergraduate students in the US has fluctuated over time. In fall 2021, approximately 15.4 million students were enrolled in undergraduate programs, marking a 3% decrease from fall 2020 and a 15% decline since fall 2010. However, projections indicate that undergraduate enrollment is expected to increase by 9% between 2021 and 2030, with slight year-over-year gains.
Demographic Factors
Undergraduate enrollment demographics in the US are diverse and exhibit varying trends:
- Gender: In fall 2021, female students comprised 58% of the undergraduate population (8.9 million), while male students made up 42% (6.5 million). Between 2010 and 2021, male enrollment decreased by 17%, while female enrollment decreased by 13%.
- Age: About 65% of undergraduate students are aged 18-24, while 10% are 17 or younger, and 16% (approximately 2.6 million) are aged 30 or older.
- Race and Ethnicity: White students constitute the largest racial or ethnic group, representing 40% of undergraduates. Hispanic students are the second-largest group, accounting for 19% of undergraduates. It's worth noting that a significant proportion of students (18%) did not report their race or ethnicity.
- International Students: In the 2022-2023 academic year, 5.69% of enrolled college students, amounting to 1.06 million, were internationals.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced undergraduate enrollment trends. The pandemic accelerated the decline in undergraduate enrollment, particularly in 2020, while graduate student enrollment remained less affected. However, the pandemic also contributed to a spike in the number of students enrolled in online courses, and the number of online learners remains higher than in pre-pandemic years.
Educational Preferences
The preferences and behaviors of undergraduate students in the US are worth noting:
- Public vs. Private Institutions: In 2022, approximately 13.49 million students were enrolled in public colleges, while 5.09 million students opted for private colleges. Among undergraduates attending private institutions, 78.4% chose nonprofit schools.
- Full-time vs. Part-time: Approximately 61.7% of undergraduates are full-time or full-time equivalent (FTE) students.
- Degree Completion: Statistics suggest that most undergraduate students make a single attempt to complete their college education.
- Popular Majors: In Fall 2024, 5.37% of undergraduates enrolled in 4-year institutions chose business as their major, making it the most popular bachelor's degree program.
These undergraduate enrollment statistics provide insights into the dynamic nature of higher education in the US, shaped by societal changes, economic factors, and the evolving preferences of students.
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Student demographics
The student demographics in the United States exhibit a diverse range of characteristics, encompassing various factors such as gender, race, age, and income. As of 2022, there were approximately 18.58 million college students in the country, with a majority enrolled in public colleges (around 13.49 million) and the rest in private colleges (about 5.09 million).
Gender
The gender distribution within US colleges showcases a higher proportion of female students. In fall 2024, there were an estimated 8.7 million women and 6.4 million men enrolled in undergraduate programs. This trend extends to graduate programs, with approximately 1.9 million women and 1.1 million men pursuing graduate studies. Notably, 6% of college students, equivalent to about 1 million individuals, chose not to disclose their gender. The gender breakdown among graduate students reveals a similar pattern, with female students constituting 61% of total postbaccalaureate enrollment.
Race and Ethnicity
The racial and ethnic composition of US college students is diverse, with no single majority group. White students constitute the largest group, accounting for 40% of undergraduates and 41% of graduate students. Hispanic students represent the second-largest group, comprising 19% of undergraduates and 10% of graduate students. It is worth noting that a significant proportion of students, 18% of undergraduates, and 15% of graduate students, did not report their race or ethnicity. Multiracial students exhibit a strong preference for four-year colleges, with 74.8% of them enrolling in such programs.
Age
The age distribution of college students in the US varies, with about 65% of undergraduates falling in the 18-24 age bracket. Interestingly, around 10% are 17 or younger, often including dual-enrollment students taking both high school and college classes. Conversely, 16% of undergraduates, amounting to roughly 2.6 million individuals, are aged 30 or older. Graduate students tend to be older, yet the majority (57%) remain under 30.
Income
There is a noticeable correlation between college enrollment and neighborhood income levels. Typically, 30% of traditional-aged undergraduate students hail from the top quintile of wealth distribution by zip code, while only 12% come from the least wealthy neighborhoods.
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Enrollment by state
California has the highest number of enrolled college students in the US, with 2.487 million students, a 97.8% increase relative to 1970. New York and Texas are the only other states with more than a million college students enrolled. Alaska has the smallest student population, with 22,152 students enrolled, a 112.7% increase relative to 1970. Wyoming, Montana, and Vermont all have fewer than 50,000 enrolled college students.
New Hampshire, Utah, and Idaho have seen the largest increases in enrollment rates relative to 2010, at 184.01%, 56.94%, and 47% respectively. 45 states have seen a decline in postsecondary enrollment since 2010, with Iowa and Alaska experiencing the largest declines, losing 47% and 42.1% of their respective student populations.
In Alabama, enrollment has declined by 10.8% since 2010, and 14.6% of Alabama residents enrolled in college leave the state to attend school. 294,009 students are enrolled in Alabama colleges. 57.9% of full-time students in Alabama are female, and 86.1% of students enrolled in Alabama postsecondary institutions attend public schools.
In Alaska, 86.7% of students enrolled in postsecondary institutions are state residents, and 13.3% are nonresidents. In Wyoming, 26.9% of residents enrolled in college leave the state to attend school.
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Enrollment by institution type
In fall 2024, first-year student enrollment increased by 5.5% compared to the previous year. Enrollment gains were stronger among older students, with those aged 25 and older seeing a 19.7% increase in enrollment.
There were approximately 18.58 million college students in the US in 2022, with around 13.49 million enrolled in public colleges and 5.09 million enrolled in private colleges. 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. In fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment rates increased for the first time since before the pandemic.
In fall 2021, there were 15.4 million undergraduate students enrolled in degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the US. This was 3% lower than in fall 2020, and 15% lower than in fall 2010. Between 2010 and 2021, male enrollment decreased by 17%, and female enrollment decreased by 13%. However, female students still made up 58% of total undergraduate enrollment (8.9 million students) in fall 2021, compared to 42% for male students (6.5 million students).
In fall 2021, total postbaccalaureate enrollment was 3.2 million students, an increase of 5% from 2020. Female students made up 61% of total postbaccalaureate enrollment (2 million students), and male students made up 39% (1.2 million students).
In the US, higher education institutions can be divided into public or private universities, research universities, liberal arts colleges, community colleges, or for-profit colleges. California has the highest number of enrolled college students at 2.487 million, while Alaska has the smallest student population with 22,152 students enrolled.
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Enrollment trends
The enrollment figures for Fall 2024 indicate a total of 19.28 million undergraduate students, with projections for Fall 2025 indicating a slight increase to 19.57 million. The enrollment gains were more pronounced among older first-year students, with a 16.7% increase for 21-24-year-olds and a 19.7% increase for those aged 25 and above, compared to a 3.4% increase for traditionally aged first-year students.
There is a notable difference in enrollment rates between genders and races. Since 1976, female enrollment has doubled, and they now represent 52.3% of college students. In the 2022-2023 academic year, 5.69% of enrolled students were internationals. Hispanic and Latino students constitute 20.3% of the student population, witnessing a 483% increase since 1976. Multiracial students show a high propensity to enroll in four-year colleges, with 74.8% doing so.
The COVID-19 pandemic also impacted enrollment trends, with a spike in online course enrollments during that period. The number of online learners remains higher than in pre-pandemic years.
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Frequently asked questions
There were approximately 18.58 million college students in the US in 2022.
In 2022, around 13.49 million students were enrolled in public colleges.
In 2022, around 5.09 million students were enrolled in private colleges.
There are around 4,000 higher education institutions in the US.
The number of students enrolled in online courses spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the number of online learners remains higher than in pre-pandemic years. In 2017, about 15% of all students attended classes exclusively online.
