What is the current state of higher education?

Nearly all four-year public (92%) and private non-profit (87%) institutions graduate the majority of students who enroll. And more than half of four-year public institutions (54%) and private non-profit institutions (58%) graduate more than 75% of their students.

Is higher education enrollment declining?

Between 2019 and 2022, enrollment in UC, the state's most selective public university, increased by 2%, while CSU experienced a 6% decline. CCC enrollment dropped by 17%—accelerating a trend driven by stalled population growth, K–12 enrollment declines, and a strong labor market, among other factors.

What is the enrollment trend in higher education 2023?

Short-term credentials continued to prove popular among undergraduate and graduate students. In fall 2023, enrollment in undergraduate certificate programs shot up 9.9% compared to the year before, while graduate certificate enrollment rose 5.7%.

What is the current state of higher education as it relates to affordability?

For the average student in our sample, in 2020-21 (the latest year with complete data,) NCAN finds that: Just 31% of public four-year colleges and universities were affordable. The average affordability gap, or amount of unmet financial need, at four-year institutions was $2,256.

Is higher education on the rise?

Graduate enrollment increased by about 0.7 percent, buoyed by a 5.6 percent increase in graduate certificate programs and reversing a downward trend in 2022. Community college enrollment rose 4.4 percent, accounting for 58.9 percent of the undergraduate increase.

The State of Higher Education Part 1

Why is higher education declining?

Following an economic recession in the early 1990s, the U.S. birth rate fell. This could explain a college enrollment decline about 18 years later. The birth rate dropped again during the 2007-2009 recession. For this reason, experts predict another enrollment drop — or "cliff" — after 2025.

What is the trend in higher education enrollment?

As of fall 2022, undergraduate enrollment was just under 15.1 million. Since 2020, some 1.23 million undergraduate students have disappeared from American colleges and universities, a 4% decline.

What state has the best higher education system?

Why is higher education so expensive in the US?

Higher education costs have increased more than 170% over the last 40 years. Lack of regulation of tuition costs, along with increased expenses, raises total costs for students. Administrative overhead and demand for more student services also increase costs.

What is the problem with college tuition?

Americans from across the political spectrum agree: college costs are too high. Tuition prices have grown much faster than inflation, making college increasingly unaffordable. Over the past thirty years, even accounting for inflation, the average cost of tuition and fees to attend college more than doubled.

Are college applications up or down for 2023?

Total application volume to returning Common App member schools through November 1 rose 65% from 2019–20 (2,028,507) to 2023–24 (3,353,516). Applicants were also applying to slightly more schools in 2023–24 than in 2019–20 (a 17% increase, from 3.42 to 4.01 applications per applicant).

Is college enrollment down in 2023?

After years of steady declines, preliminary figures show overall college enrollment is up nationwide for the fall 2023 semester, the first increase since the beginning of the pandemic.

Is college attendance increasing?

“We're seeing increased wages in occupations that don't require a bachelor's or an associate degree.” Enrollment numbers grew by about 5% in the 2022-23 school year, according to data provided by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office.

Why are universities struggling?

About 95% of U.S. colleges rely on tuition, according to Franek, meaning they rely on money from students to operate. Dwindling enrollment numbers mean less money, fewer student offerings and eventually a shuttered institution.

Are less people going to college now?

College enrollment among young Americans has been declining gradually over the past decade. In 2022, the total number of 18- to 24-year-olds enrolled in college was down by approximately 1.2 million from its peak in 2011. Most of the decline is due to fewer young men pursuing college.

Why college is becoming less popular?

Many have turned to hourly jobs or careers that don't require a degree, while others have been deterred by high tuition and the prospect of student debt.

Why is college so unaffordable?

While it is tempting to blame inflation alone for expensive college education, it is important to remember that the ballooning costs of tuition and fees far outpace inflation alone. Overhead expenses, an ever-increasing demand, and competitive campus amenities drive costs up, as well.

When did college become unaffordable?

Between 1973 and 1980 was the only time average tuition and fees decreased for a brief period. By the 1981-1982 academic year, tuition costs rose again and have continued to rise every year since. Between 2000 and 2021, average tuition and fees have jumped by 69%, from $8,082 to $13,677 per year.

Is college too expensive in 2023?

In the 2022-2023 academic year, tuition and fees rose to $39,000, but students paid even less—around $15,000. Even when taking inflation into consideration, the rate at which college tuition has risen still outpaces the consumer price index (CPI), a measure which is used as a proxy for inflation.

What is the #1 educated state?

Overall, 90.3% of Americans over the age of 25 had graduated from high school in 2021, with the highest level found in the state of Massachusetts at 96.1% and the lowest in the state of California at 84.4%.

What state is #1 in education?

Florida is Ranked as Number One State for Education by U.S. News & World Report. Tallahassee, Fla., May 4, 2023 – Today, Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. celebrates Florida's ranking as number one in education by U.S. News & World Report.

What is the biggest problem in higher education?

Falling Student Retention & Completion Rates

Finally, one of the biggest issues facing all Higher Education Institutions across the globe are falling student retention and completion rates.

What are the mega trends in higher education?

Education institutions are fostering these qualities and influencing learning outcomes through three mega trends, namely adaptive learning, makerspaces, and open educational resources (OER).

What is the outlook for the higher education industry?

The higher education market is forecasted to grow by USD 74.18 billion during 2023-2028, accelerating at a CAGR of 14.77% during the forecast period.