College Enrollment Decline

This morning the Census Bureau released 2009 school enrollment statistics, and the numbers confirm that full-time undergraduate enrollment at private colleges and universities is still below the peak of 2005.

Although overall college enrollment is at an all-time high of nearly 20 million, the number of undergraduates enrolled full-time in four-year private schools is 9 percent below peak. Because the private numbers include some of the rapidly expanding for-profits (excluded are those with online courses only), traditional non-profit private colleges may be hurting more than these numbers suggest.

Meanwhile, the number of undergraduates enrolled full-time in four-year public colleges and universities grew 14 percent between 2005 and 2009. The number enrolled full-time in two-year public colleges expanded by 38 percent.

Source: Census Bureau, School Enrollment--Social and Economic Characteristics of Students: October 2009