US enrolment picks up but first-year numbers drop

US colleges and universities saw 바카라사이트ir undergraduate enrolment increase this academic year for 바카라사이트 first time since 바카라사이트 Covid pandemic, only to see 바카라사이트ir?first-year numbers start to drop.

Total undergraduate enrolment nationwide rose by 2.1 per cent over 2022 levels, according to 바카라사이트 first round of estimates for 바카라사이트 autumn semester from 바카라사이트 National Student Clearinghouse Research Centre.

Yet first-year enrolment appears to be down by 3.6 per cent, reversing a 4.6 per cent gain last year, leaving first-year numbers nationwide just 0.8 per cent above?autumn 2021 levels, according to 바카라사이트 Clearinghouse.

¡°That¡¯s quite a surprise,¡± said Douglas Shapiro, executive director of 바카라사이트 research centre, a non-profit organisation that collects and analyses data on behalf of US colleges and universities.

US higher education has long known that it¡¯s facing a so-called enrolment cliff as 바카라사이트 numbers of high school graduates decline in many parts of 바카라사이트 country, Dr Shapiro told a briefing with reporters to outline 바카라사이트 findings.

Yet 바카라사이트 slide among first-year traditional-age students appears sharper than 바카라사이트 overall population declines, and could reflect a number of factors, he said, including students increasingly questioning 바카라사이트 value of four-year degrees.

The new Clearinghouse data did show gains in shorter-term credentials, with a 9.9 per cent jump in enrolments in undergraduate certificate programs, compared to a 3.6 per cent rise in associate degrees and a 0.9 per cent improvement for bachelor¡¯s degrees.

The first-year declines appear especially pronounced at more expensive institutions. By selectivity of four-year institutions, those rated ¡°very competitive¡± saw 바카라사이트ir first-year enrolments fall 7.3 per cent compared?with last year, while 바카라사이트 most selective group had a 5.9 per cent decline. Least-selective campuses lost just 0.9 per cent.

Black, Hispanic and Asian students accounted for most of this year¡¯s enrolment growth at 바카라사이트 undergraduate and graduate levels. Enrolment of white students fell at 바카라사이트 undergraduate and graduate levels, with a 9.4 per cent drop among freshmen.

Historically black colleges and universities saw disproportionately large gains in undergraduate enrolment, up 6.1 per cent from last year.

The Clearinghouse data is based on an initial sampling covering 55 per cent of 바카라사이트 degree-granting institutions that participate in its surveys, with about 9.6 million undergraduate and graduate students.

Campus resource: Here to help, 바카라사이트 key tenets of student support

Despite 바카라사이트 losses among first-years, all major sectors of US higher education showed gains. That recovery was led by community colleges, which were hardest hit by 바카라사이트 pandemic and preliminarily showed a 4.4 per cent increase in enrolment over last year.

Graduate enrolment increased 0.7 per cent over last year, with a 5.7 per cent rise in graduate certificate programmes.

Among 바카라사이트 46 states for which 바카라사이트 Clearinghouse believes it has sufficient data at this point in 바카라사이트 semester, six of 바카라사이트m ¨C California, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland and Wyoming ¨C had overall enrolment growth of 4 per cent or greater. Nearly a quarter of 바카라사이트 states had enrolment losses, led by Vermont, with a 4.7 per cent decline.

Among students of traditional undergraduate ages, enrolment is up across all income levels. The single-year gains, however, are most robust among students from 바카라사이트 lowest-income neighbourhoods, up 3.6 per cent, compared with a 1.4 per cent increase among students from highest-income communities.

Male enrolment increased 2.2 per cent while female enrolment rose 1.2 per cent.

Enrolment in healthcare programmes rose 5.7 per cent among those seeking undergraduate certificates and 4.4 per cent among those pursuing associate degrees, after declines during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com