Spring enrollment numbers are looking up across the postsecondary sector, according to the latest data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, which collects data from almost all U.S. institutions.
Their new report, "Current Term Enrollment Estimates Spring 2024," shows that undergraduate enrollment grew 2.5% since spring 2023, which means over 359,000 more students enrolled this spring to pursue their bachelor’s degree, associate degree, or certificate. Graduate degree enrollment also improved by 3%, reversing the previous year’s losses.
“If we look at the rates [of increase], 2.5% undergraduate increase compared to last spring when the growth was 1.2%, that’s twice the rate of increase we saw in 2023,” said Dr. Doug Shapiro, vice president of research and executive director of the research center. “That’s a pretty dramatic turnaround.”
This continues the upward trend that began last fall after years of declining enrollments in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit community colleges particularly hard. This spring, growth was primarily driven by community colleges, where enrollment rose 4.7% in urban settings and 7.4% in suburban areas. Most of these gains were seen at public, two-year institutions that offer vocational degrees.
Dual enrollments are another source of significant increases, making up 10% of total growth seen this spring, consistent with their growth last year, said Shapiro.
“[Dual enrollment numbers are] quite a bit higher than if we look at traditionally aged students, 18 to 20 years old. That growth is only 2.9%,” said Shapiro.
Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) also saw consistent year-over-year growth, with both undergraduate and graduate enrollment increasing this spring. Total enrollments at HBCUs are up 1.1 percentage points from last year.
