The latest enrollment estimates from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center for the Fall 2024 school year reveal a complex picture for today’s colleges and universities. While overall enrollment has nearly rebounded from pre-COVID levels, the growth is uneven across sectors, fields of study, and student demographics.

Overall College Enrollment Spike

Total postsecondary enrollment is up 4.5% (approx. +817,000) this fall, a positive sign for enrollment directors. Undergraduate levels are just shy of the 2019 levels, suggesting a near recovery.

Fall Bachelor's Program Enrollment across all institutions since 2019

The Rise of Older Freshman

A notable trend is the 5.5% increase in freshman enrollment, representing roughly 130,000 students. This growth is particularly pronounced among students aged 25 or older, indicating a potential shift in traditional enrollment predictions.

While enrollment of younger first-year students also increased, the growth was less dramatic, and 18-year-old student enrollment is still lagging behind pre-pandemic levels. This suggests institutions may need to adjust their enrollment strategies to target more non-traditional students.

Freshman Enrollment at All Institutions for All Students By Age

Uneven Growth Across Sectors

Enrollment growth varied across the different higher education sectors:

SectorEnrollment % Change from Fall 2023 to Fall 2024
Public 4-Year3.1%
Private nonprofit 4-year3.8%
Private for-profit 4-year7.5%
Public PAB
(Primarily Associate-Degree Granting Baccalaureate)
6.3%
Public 2-Year5.8%

This disparity underscores the importance of proactive strategic enrollment management. Simply hoping for a universal rebound is not a sustainable strategy. Institutions must actively adapt to the factors influencing student preferences.

Annual Percent Change in Enrollment by College Sector

Shifting Enrollment for Fields of Study

The college enrollment landscape is shifting within specific fields of study.

Growing Fields

Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences continue to see strong enrollment growth across all institution types.

Health Professionals Saw Significant Enrollment Growth This Year

Data analytics and data science have experienced explosive growth at the graduate level, jumping from 297 national enrollments in 2020 to over 25,000 in just four years.

Data Analytics majors have grown exponentially in the last four years

This aligns with strong market projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which forecasts an 8% growth rate for data engineering and database architects, significantly higher than the 3% average.

Moderate Growth

Computer and Information Sciences have seen a moderate growth compared to previous years. Undergraduate enrollment at four-year institutions increased just 5.5% this year, down from ~10% growth in 2022 and 2023. Graduate-level enrollment in this field saw nearly no growth.

Computer and Information Sciences Enrollment Did Not See as much growth this year
Declining Fields

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, Humanities, and English majors have experienced enrollment declines at four-year institutions.

Liberal Arts and Sciences saw enrollment decline


Future Outlook and Call to Action

With the number of 18-year-olds projected to decline in the coming years, proactive enrollment strategies are more critical than ever. Institutions that adapt to these changing demographics and market demands will be best positioned for future success. Contact IonTuition to discuss how we can help you navigate these challenges and develop effective enrollment solutions.