Despite a steady decade-long decline in student numbers, new data reveals surprising shifts in who is enrolling where, and in what they're studying.
Key Takeaways
- In fall 2022, total fall enrollment in degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the US was 15.4 million students, a 2.9% decrease from 2021
- US undergraduate enrollment in public 4-year institutions reached 5.8 million in fall 2022, down 3.1% from the previous year
- Private nonprofit 4-year institutions saw 2.9 million undergraduates enrolled in fall 2022, representing a 1.2% decline
- In fall 2022, total graduate enrollment in US postsecondary institutions was 3.1 million, up 1.5% from 2021
- Master's degree programs enrolled 2.0 million graduate students in 2022
- Doctoral students totaled 0.6 million in US in fall 2022, with 0.4 million research doctorates
- In fall 2022, US community college enrollment totaled 8.4 million students across 936 institutions
- California community colleges enrolled 2.1 million students in 2022-23, the highest in US
- Texas community colleges had 0.8 million enrollees in fall 2022
- In 2022-23, international students in US higher ed totaled 1,057,188, up 12% from prior year
- India sent 268,923 students to US in 2022-23, 25% of total international enrollment
- China contributed 289,526 international students to US in 2022-23, down 4% YoY
- In 2021-22, total US K-12 enrollment was 49.6 million students across public and private schools
- Public school enrollment totaled 47.2 million in fall 2022, with 90% aged 5-17
- Private school K-12 enrollment was 5.4 million in 2021-22, 10% of total
US enrollment trends show declining undergraduate numbers amid shifting demographics and growing graduate studies.
Community College Enrollment
- In fall 2022, US community college enrollment totaled 8.4 million students across 936 institutions
- California community colleges enrolled 2.1 million students in 2022-23, the highest in US
- Texas community colleges had 0.8 million enrollees in fall 2022
- Florida's 28 community colleges served 0.7 million students in 2022
- Part-time community college students numbered 5.2 million in 2022, 62% of total enrollment
- Full-time community college enrollment was 3.2 million in fall 2022
- Dual enrollment (high school students in CC) reached 1.4 million in 2021-22
- Community college transfer rates to 4-year schools averaged 15% nationally in 2022
- Online community college enrollment was 2.9 million in 2022, 35% of total
- Black students comprised 13% of community college enrollment in 2022, totaling 1.1 million
- Hispanic community college students numbered 3.2 million in 2022, 38% of enrollment
- Female students made up 55% of community college enrollment at 4.6 million in 2022
- STEM certificates at community colleges enrolled 0.9 million in 2022
- Nursing programs in community colleges had 0.25 million students in 2022
- Allied health community college enrollment totaled 0.6 million in 2021-22
- Business associate degrees enrolled 0.4 million CC students in 2022
- Liberal arts CC enrollment was 2.1 million in 2022, largest program area
- IT/computer CC programs had 0.3 million enrollees in 2022
- Automotive technology CC enrollment stood at 0.15 million in 2022
- Cosmetology CC programs enrolled 0.1 million students in 2022
- Welding CC enrollment reached 0.12 million in 2021-22
- Criminal justice CC students totaled 0.2 million in 2022
- Early childhood education CC enrollment was 0.18 million in 2022
Community College Enrollment Interpretation
With California boldly proving that everything really is bigger there, America's community colleges are quietly and critically doing the heavy lifting in higher education, enrolling over 8.4 million students who are predominantly part-time, diverse, and eagerly pursuing everything from liberal arts to welding, even if only a lucky 15% will ever make it to a university's welcome mat.
Enrollment Demographics
- In 2021-22, total US K-12 enrollment was 49.6 million students across public and private schools
- Public school enrollment totaled 47.2 million in fall 2022, with 90% aged 5-17
- Private school K-12 enrollment was 5.4 million in 2021-22, 10% of total
- Kindergarten enrollment reached 4.1 million in public schools 2021-22
- High school (grades 9-12) enrollment was 15.3 million in public schools 2022
- White students comprised 44% of public K-12 enrollment at 21.0 million in 2021-22
- Hispanic K-12 students numbered 13.6 million in 2021-22, 27% of public enrollment
- Black students totaled 7.2 million in US public K-12, 15% in 2021-22
- Asian/Pacific Islander K-12 enrollment was 2.6 million, 5% of total in 2022
- Females made up 49% of K-12 public enrollment at 23.1 million in 2021-22
- English language learners numbered 5.3 million in public K-12, 11% in 2021-22
- Students with disabilities enrolled 7.5 million in public schools 2021-22, 15%
- Low-income students (FRPL eligible) totaled 28.4 million, 57% of public K-12 in 2021-22
- Charter school enrollment reached 3.7 million in 2021-22, 7% of public students
- Homeschooling K-12 enrollment estimated at 3.7 million in 2022, up from 2.7M pre-pandemic
- Pre-K enrollment in public schools was 1.4 million in 2021-22
- Gifted/talented program enrollment totaled 3.2 million in public K-12 2021-22
- Rural school district enrollment was 9.7 million in 2021-22, 20% of public students
- Urban K-12 enrollment numbered 13.5 million in public schools 2022
- Suburban public K-12 enrollment totaled 22.8 million in 2021-22
- Single-race non-Hispanic White K-12 students declined to 43% of enrollment in 2022
- Multiracial students in K-12 rose to 5% or 2.4 million in 2021-22
- Native American/Alaska Native K-12 enrollment was 0.6 million, 1% in 2022
Enrollment Demographics Interpretation
This data paints a picture of the modern American classroom: increasingly diverse, predominantly low-income, and one where the traditional public school, while still the overwhelming norm, is now just one option among a growing mosaic of educational pathways.
Graduate Enrollment
- In fall 2022, total graduate enrollment in US postsecondary institutions was 3.1 million, up 1.5% from 2021
- Master's degree programs enrolled 2.0 million graduate students in 2022
- Doctoral students totaled 0.6 million in US in fall 2022, with 0.4 million research doctorates
- Professional degree enrollment (e.g., MD, JD) reached 0.5 million in 2022
- Public 4-year institutions had 1.7 million graduate students in fall 2022
- Private nonprofit graduate enrollment was 1.2 million in 2022
- Female graduate students outnumbered males 1.8 million to 1.3 million in 2022
- STEM graduate fields enrolled 1.1 million students in 2021-22
- Education graduate programs had 0.7 million enrollees in 2022
- Business graduate enrollment totaled 0.5 million in 2022
- Health sciences graduate students numbered 0.4 million in 2022, up 4%
- Law school enrollment (JD programs) was 0.13 million in fall 2022
- Medical school enrollment reached 0.10 million in 2022-23
- Engineering graduate enrollment hit 0.25 million in 2022
- Biological sciences grad students totaled 0.18 million in 2021-22
- Social sciences graduate enrollment was 0.22 million in 2022
- Psychology graduate programs enrolled 0.12 million in 2022
- Public policy graduate enrollment stood at 0.08 million in 2022
- Computer science grad enrollment grew to 0.11 million in 2022, up 8%
- Humanities graduate students declined to 0.15 million in 2022
- Fine arts graduate enrollment was 0.09 million in 2021-22
- Physical sciences grad enrollment totaled 0.07 million in 2022
Graduate Enrollment Interpretation
Amidst the academic landscape of 2022, a clear hierarchy emerges: Master’s degrees rule the practical kingdom, doctorates toil in their specialized towers, professional degrees command lucrative fiefdoms, and while STEM and health sciences flourish with ambition, the humanities quietly tend their garden, wondering if anyone will visit.
International Student Enrollment
- In 2022-23, international students in US higher ed totaled 1,057,188, up 12% from prior year
- India sent 268,923 students to US in 2022-23, 25% of total international enrollment
- China contributed 289,526 international students to US in 2022-23, down 4% YoY
- South Korea had 41,632 students in US in 2022-23
- Canada sent 27,933 students to US colleges in 2022-23
- Saudi Arabia's US enrollment dropped to 20,992 in 2022-23
- Graduate-level international students numbered 447,482 in US 2022-23, 42% of total intl
- Undergraduate international enrollment was 468,133 in US 2022-23
- OPT participants among intl students reached 472,000 in 2022-23
- California hosted 154,952 intl students in 2022-23, 15% of national total
- New York state intl enrollment totaled 126,782 in 2022-23
- STEM fields enrolled 62% of intl students (655,000) in US 2022-23
- Business/management intl enrollment was 195,000 in US 2022-23
- Engineering intl students numbered 132,000 in 2022-23
- Math/computer science intl enrollment hit 248,000 in US 2022-23
- Physical/life sciences intl students totaled 113,000 in 2022-23
- Social sciences intl enrollment was 82,000 in US 2022-23
- Fine/applied arts intl students numbered 35,000 in 2022-23
- Intl students on F-1 visas increased 12% to 1,000,000+ in 2022-23
- UK universities enrolled 679,970 intl students in 2021-22, up 16%
- Australia hosted 651,011 intl students in 2023
- Germany saw 400,000+ intl students in 2022-23
- Canada intl enrollment hit 807,750 in 2022-23, up 29%
- France enrolled 412,087 intl students in 2022-23
International Student Enrollment Interpretation
America's classrooms are now the quiet battleground where India and China jostle for diplomas, with STEM degrees as the primary currency and Canada eyeing the professor's chair from across the border.
Undergraduate Enrollment
- In fall 2022, total fall enrollment in degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the US was 15.4 million students, a 2.9% decrease from 2021
- US undergraduate enrollment in public 4-year institutions reached 5.8 million in fall 2022, down 3.1% from the previous year
- Private nonprofit 4-year institutions saw 2.9 million undergraduates enrolled in fall 2022, representing a 1.2% decline
- In 2021-22, 8.4 million students were enrolled in undergraduate programs at public 2-year colleges
- Total US undergraduate enrollment peaked at 17.6 million in 2010 before declining to 12.2 million by 2021
- Fall 2023 preliminary data shows US undergraduate enrollment up 1.1% from 2022, reaching approximately 12.5 million
- In 2022, 39% of US undergraduates were enrolled full-time at 4-year institutions, totaling 4.8 million students
- Black undergraduates numbered 2.1 million in US institutions in 2021, comprising 13% of total undergrads
- Hispanic undergraduates reached 3.5 million in 2022, up 5% from 2021, making up 24% of undergrad population
- Female undergraduates outnumbered males 8.2 million to 6.3 million in fall 2022
- In fall 2020, undergraduate enrollment in for-profit institutions dropped 15% to 0.8 million students
- STEM undergraduate majors enrolled 3.2 million students in US colleges in 2021-22
- Arts and humanities undergrad enrollment stood at 1.1 million in 2022, down 4% from 2019
- Business majors had 1.9 million undergrads in 2021-22, the largest field at 19% of total
- Health professions undergrad enrollment grew to 1.4 million in 2022, up 6% from prior year
- Social sciences undergrads totaled 1.5 million in US in 2021
- Education majors enrolled 0.8 million undergrads in 2022, down 2% YoY
- Engineering undergrad enrollment hit 0.7 million in 2022, up 3%
- Biological sciences undergrads numbered 0.9 million in 2021-22
- Psychology undergrad enrollment reached 1.2 million in 2022
- Communications majors had 0.6 million undergrads in US colleges 2022
- Computer science undergrad enrollment surged to 0.5 million in 2022, up 10%
- History undergrads declined to 0.3 million in 2022, down 5%
- English language undergrad enrollment was 0.4 million in 2021-22
- Visual/performing arts undergrads totaled 1.0 million in 2022
- Public administration undergrad enrollment stood at 0.2 million in 2022
- Agriculture undergrad majors enrolled 0.1 million in US 2022
- Architecture undergrad enrollment was 0.15 million in 2021-22
- Physical sciences undergrads numbered 0.25 million in 2022
- Philosophy/religious studies undergrad enrollment declined to 0.05 million in 2022
Undergraduate Enrollment Interpretation
While we might be graduating fewer philosophers, the data suggests American students are pragmatically trading the existential crisis of "what is the meaning of life?" for the more immediate and employable crisis of "how do I debug this code?" as undergraduate enrollment continues its decade-long slide, punctuated by a modest recent rebound driven by growth in STEM and health fields.
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