OAN’s James Meyers
10:12 AM – Thursday, October 26, 2023
A new report suggests the number of college students enrolled across the United States has increased for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
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According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, enrollment for undergraduate students increased by 2.1% in 2023, compared to the 2022-23 school year.
Data from the report showed a 4.4% increase in community college enrollment, which accounted for almost 60% of the total increase in undergraduate students.
Additionally, enrollment by undergraduates in non-degree programs increased by 9.9% and associate’s degree program enrollment went up by 3.6%.
“This is good news for community colleges and for the growing numbers of continuing and returning students who had lost momentum from the start of the pandemic,” Douglas Shapiro, the executive director of the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, said in a statement.
However, the report also revealed freshman enrollment declined 3.6%, which is a major change compared to the 4.6% increase from a year ago.
“The initial recovery among freshmen last year appears to have stalled, as more 18-to 20-year-olds, especially at four-year institutions, are opting out,” Shapiro said.
Furthermore, the report indicated that Black, Hispanic, and Asian students helped account for a significant amount of the increase, while White student enrollment went down almost 1%.
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By: OAN
