Spring 2022 enrollment data reveals another dramatic loss of students in higher education, a continuation of declines seen since the onset of the pandemic.
That’s according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s Current Term Enrollment Estimate report, published in the spring and fall each year. The Research Center collects data from over 3,600 colleges, universities, and credential-granting programs, 97% of all U.S. postsecondary institutions.
Dr. Doug Shapiro, vice president of research and executive director at the National Student Clearinghouse.
“Spring enrollments are continuation of what we found in the fall, that declines are becoming much more widespread,” said Dr. Doug Shapiro, vice president of research and executive director at the National Student Clearinghouse. “Declines are very much across the board across all regions, but they tend to be slightly less severe in the Southern region, and more severe in the some of the Midwest and Northeast.”
Computer sciences remain a top major at both two- and four-year institutions, and skilled-trades programs saw an enrollment increase of 11.5%. Other programs like culinary arts and construction also saw increased enrollment, but no increase surpassed the levels seen before the pandemic.
The report does contain some good news. The number of the first-time freshman enrolling in the spring semester did jump by 4.2%, roughly 13,700 students. The majority (58.4%) enrolled at a community college.
“Even though the numbers are very small in spring freshman enrollment, seeing positive turnout was positive information to share with field and has to do with what’s going on at community colleges more than any other sector,” said Dr. Mikyung Ryu, director of research publications at the National Student Clearinghouse. Spring enrollment for freshman usually represents about one fifth of total freshman entry during an academic year.
