Latest Numbers Show Largest College Enrollment Decline In A Decade

Updated figures from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC) show that overall college enrollment fell to 16.9 million students this spring, down more than 600,000 students from a year ago. That one-year decline of 3.5% is the largest spring semester enrollment decrease since 2011, according to the final spring report by the NSCRC released today.

The decrease was accounted for entirely by a 4.9% drop in undergraduate students, amounting to 727,000 fewer students. In fact, enrollment of graduate students increased by a healthy 4.6%, the equivalent of 124,000 more students.

Here are further details about how the enrollment decline shook out among various groups.