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Community colleges posted the strongest gains among undergraduate institutions, with enrollment climbing 4 percent. Public four-year institutions saw a 1.9 percent increase, while private nonprofit four-year colleges grew 0.9 percent.
Graduate enrollment remained largely flat, edging up just 0.1 percent from fall 2024.
The data, based on a panel of institutions that consistently reported enrollment figures across multiple years, provide an early look at fall term trends. Final enrollment figures will be published in January.
Undergraduate certificate programs experienced the largest growth among all credential types, surging 6.6 percent and continuing robust gains from the previous year. Associate degree programs increased 3.1 percent, bachelor's programs rose 1.2 percent, and doctoral programs grew 1.1 percent.
Master's degree enrollment declined 0.6 percent, making it the only credential category to see a decrease this fall.
The enrollment increases spanned all undergraduate age groups. Students aged 18 grew 3.2 percent, while adult learners aged 25 to 29 increased 3.3 percent and those 30 and older rose 2.7 percent.
Enrollment patterns varied significantly by race and ethnicity. Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students continued to see growth at both undergraduate and graduate levels. However, undergraduate enrollment among white students declined 3.7 percent.
The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center's Preliminary Fall Enrollment Trends report has evolved from earlier reports that provided urgent enrollment updates during the COVID-19 pandemic. The center refined its methodology to better connect preliminary and final enrollment data for institutional planning purposes.
The dashboard accompanying the report includes national and state-level data on annual enrollment changes and allows users to examine trends by institutional characteristics such as sector, admission selectivity, and location, as well as by student demographics including enrollment intensity, credential program, neighborhood income, and major.
