College enrollment is falling at a ‘concerning’ rate, new data reveals

The University of Maryland campus in College Park, Maryland, on 7 December 2017. Photograph: The Washington Post/Getty Images

College enrollment is dropping at a “concerning” rate, according to new data.

Data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows enrollment of 18-year-old freshmen has dropped by 5% this fall semester. The data reflects enrollments reported for 1.4 million 18-year-old freshmen as of 31 October 2024.