Enrollment declines continued to worsen this spring. Total postsecondary enrollment fell to 16.2 million this spring, marking a one-year decline of 4.1 percent or 685,000 students. Enrollment declined this spring at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Following a 3.5 percent drop last spring, postsecondary institutions have lost nearly 1.3 million students since spring 2020.
In fall 2019, overall postsecondary enrollments decreased 1.3 percent or more than 231,000 students from the previous fall to 17.9 million students.
In the current term (fall 2018) overall postsecondary enrollments decreased 1.7 percent from the previous fall.
Between 2009 and 2013, students over the age of 26 showed a 25% growth rate in science and engineering bachelor’s degree completion compared to a 19% growth rate among students age 26 or under at time of completion.
From 2007-08 to 2010-11, the number of degrees awarded to students age 25 and older increased by 22%, compared to 17% for those under age 25.
According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, on average, 38 percent of all students, undergraduate and graduate, in a fall term are adult learners.
