U.S. College Enrollment Sees First Increase Since Pandemic

Community colleges lead the way as students opt for shorter-term degrees and vocational programs.

Undergraduate enrollment in U.S. colleges and universities increased by 1.2% in fall 2023, marking the first increase since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Community colleges saw the highest growth, gaining 118,000 students in fall 2023, with a significant increase in students opting for shorter-term degrees and vocational programs.
Enrollment in associate programs saw the highest growth among undergraduates, up 2.2% over the prior year, but still 14.2% below fall 2019 levels.
Despite the overall increase, there are still over a million fewer students enrolled in college compared to pre-pandemic times.
Freshman enrollment grew last fall, but only at the rate of 0.8% (18,000 more students), meaning that continuing and returning students accounted for most of the overall undergraduate gain.