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Led by continuing drops at private, for-profit colleges, higher-education enrollment declined this fall for a sixth semester in a row, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reports.

The number of students overall fell by about 1 percent, or 250,000, at the very time that policymakers are pushing to speed up the pace at which the nation is producing college graduates.

College enrollment statitstics
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Most of the decrease is among students over 24, who researchers said were either leaving college or deciding not to enroll as the economy improves and more jobs become available. The number of students finishing high school is also down, meaning there are fewer of them bound for higher education.

Most of the decrease is among students over 24, who researchers said were either leaving college or deciding not to enroll as more jobs become available

There appeared to be a particularly sharp decline at community colleges, whose numbers fell by 6 percent, though part of that is because some of those colleges have added bachelor’s degree programs and their students have been reclassified into the four-year, rather than two-year, category.

When that shift is taken into account, community college enrollment fell by 3.6 percent, the Clearinghouse reports.

The number of students at four-year private, nonprofit institutions rose about 1.6 percent, though the growth was concentrated at the largest campuses.
The enrollment slide at private, for-profit colleges slowed to less than half of 1 percent, down from last year’s nearly 10 percent plunge.

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3 replies on “U.S. university enrollment continues to slide”

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  1. Private colleges are doing better than Public thanks to 3 facts
    1.graduating rates of 80% to 85% against 23% to 25%
    2.- students complete in 100% to 120% of time instead of 150% to 200% minimum
    3.-placement of 70% against 0% in public colleges
    So public colleges are trying to destroy private colleges

  2. The White House published on August 2013 the expenses for Private and Public Education
    Totall cost in pell and loans equal 170 billons
    Public education 75% private 25% same kind of Pell and Loans
    Plus in addition the states provide 70 % to public
    For tuition .what are they using with so much extra money ?

  3. Private education is better than Public for 3 facts
    1.-private graduating rate is 80% to 85% and Public colleges is 23% to 26%
    2.-Completion time is in 100% to 120% and public is 150% to 250% of the time allowed
    3.-Placement rate is 70% against 0% in public because they don’t place students that finally graduated

Letters are closed