Fall 2024 enrollment trends in 3 charts

Inside Higher Ed

Laura Spitalniak

November 20, 2024

Undergraduate enrollment rose 3% in fall 2024 from last year, according to preliminary data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. But a closer look at that data highlights some important trends that could shape higher education for years to come.

That includes a 5% drop in first-year students, a concerning decline that some higher education experts link to the rocky rollout earlier this year of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

The preliminary data set includes about 52% of colleges that report to the clearinghouse. As with all incomplete data sets, it’s important to note that the final numbers could differ from preliminary figures.

Last fall, clearinghouse researchers estimated that first-year enrollment had dropped by 3.6%. But when they finalized results in January, researchers found it had instead grown 0.8%. The final fall enrollment report is again expected in January, the clearinghouse said.

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