President Barack Obama’s goal for America to have the highest number of college graduates in the world by 2020 took a slight dive after a recent report shows enrollment decreased last year.
According to a preliminary data report from the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, enrollment throughout the nation’s colleges and universities in fall 2011 slightly decreased from fall 2010 by 34,120 students, or 0.20 percent.
This month’s data focused on more than 21 million students at 7,200 schools that receive federal financial aid. The NCES report did not specify why enrollment decreased by nearly 3 percent at for-profit schools and 0.30 percent at public colleges and universities.
It is the first enrollment reduction since the mid-1990s.
One major indicator seen nationwide are state budget cuts causing a rise in tuition and other fees forcing students to seek more financial aid and, in turn, having more debt after graduation. In addition, programs are cut and limited faculty are available to teach.
However, enrollment at private nonprofit schools slightly increased by nearly 2 percent.
“While the data brought positive news, there was no popping of champagne bottles,” said David Warren, president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, in an email to Diverse on Monday. “Since the economic downturn, private colleges have boosted student aid and slowed tuition increases, while maintaining the educational quality and personal touch that have long been their hallmarks.”
