Stay Informed Report: Preliminary Data Shows Undergraduate Enrollment Increasing for 2nd Year in a Row, but Freshman Numbers Are Declining

According to the latest Stay Informed report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, undergraduate enrollment is showing signs of a second straight year of growth. Early reporting of fall enrollment shows a 3% increase from fall 2023.

However, this is the first time since 2020 that first-year (freshman) enrollment has declined.

“It is startling to see such a substantial drop in freshmen, the first decline since the start of the pandemic in 2020 when they plunged nearly 10%,” said Doug Shapiro, Executive Director of the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. “But the gains among students either continuing from last year or returning from prior stop outs are keeping overall undergraduate numbers growing, especially at community colleges, and that’s at least some good news for students and schools alike.”

How Overall Enrollment Continues to Increase

Despite the drop in first-year students, overall undergraduate enrollment experienced growth due to increases in returning and continuing (non-first time) students, dual-enrolled high school students, and part-time students at community colleges.

• Non-first time students who are either continuing from the prior academic year or returning from stop out are seeing enrollment growth of 4.7%.
• Dual-enrolled high school students’ enrollment is seeing the continuation of a multi-year period of growth, increasing by 7.2%. First-time enrollment at community colleges grew by 3.4% among part-time starters.

What Types of Institutions Are Impacted by Declining Freshman Enrollment

Freshman enrollment is declining by 5% compared to last fall in the preliminary data. This decline varies across different types of institutions.

• Public and private nonprofit four-year institutions are experiencing the largest decreases, with freshman enrollment down by 8.5% and 6.5%, respectively.
• Four-year institutions with a high percentage of Pell Grant recipients are seeing freshman enrollment plummet by more than 10%.
• While four-year institutions are experiencing the steepest declines, community colleges (public two-year and primarily associate-degree granting baccalaureate institutions) are seeing a much smaller freshman enrollment decline of 0.4%. 

Other Key Findings

• Graduate programs are also experiencing enrollment growth, with a 2.1% increase.
• Shorter-term credentials continue to grow, with a 7.3% increase in enrollment in undergraduate certificate programs.
• Freshman enrollment is declining among all racial and ethnic groups, most significantly among White (-11.4%), Black (-6.1%), and Multiracial (-6.6%) first-time students.

For the full report, visit: Stay Informed with the Latest Enrollment Information.

“It is startling to see such a substantial drop in freshmen, the first decline since the start of the pandemic in 2020 when they plunged nearly 10%. But the gains among students either continuing from last year or returning from prior stop outs are keeping overall undergraduate numbers growing, especially at community colleges, and that’s at least some good news for students and schools alike.”

Doug Shapiro
Executive Director, National Student Clearinghouse Research Center

Additional Resources:

• Read the Stay Informed Report
• Visit the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center