From 2012 to the present, there has been a decline in students enrolling in universities. According to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, enrollment across all degree programs dropped by nearly 1.4 million students from 2012 to 2022. I have also seen it myself from when I first attended school in 2019 to now 2025, there has not been that many students in class. I would say because of the costs of school, and yearly the price of everything has gone up. Several factors contribute to this decline.
One big factor thats stands out is economic challenges, including rising tuition costs and student debt, have stopped students from pursuing higher education. As college expenses continue to rise, many high school students are choosing alternative education, like vocational training or entering the workforce straight out of high school. Many students have chosen these options to avoid debt and taking out loans. Even though there are other ways to pay for college like scolarships, not everyone will qualify for them.
In addition to this, the U.S. birthrate has been declining since 2008, resulting in a smaller pool of traditional college-age students. This has created increased competition among universities to attract enrollments. Institutions have responded with various initiatives aimed at appealing to prospective students, including enhanced financial aid packages and more flexible learning options, such as online courses.
I would also say the pandemic had a significant role in the decline of students attending college as well. Many students faced challenges during remote learning and reevaluated the necessity of a university degree during uncertain economic times. According to a survey conducted by Student Loan Hero, 57% of students indicated that the pandemic caused them to reconsider their college plans. Some students postponed their college plans and some never returned.
Other than the decline in enrolling in college and universities, many schools are increasing their outreach to non-traditional students, including adult learners and working professionals who seek to upskill. Many institutions are rethinking their curricular to meet labor market demands, focusing on fields with high job growth potential.