(NewsNation) — Overall enrollment at colleges nationwide is increasing, but 2024’s first-year class has seen a significant drop, according to a report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
Preliminary data for fall 2024 shows total undergraduate enrollment went up by 3%.
However, first-year enrollment is declining, down 5% from this time last year. The report said that public and private 4-year institutions have seen the largest decreases.
Experts warned earlier this year that the federal government’s botched rollout of the new FAFSA application could lead to college declines.
However, during a call with reporters Tuesday, Doug Shapiro, who oversaw the data analysis at the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, said that it’s “very hard to pinpoint any single cause of the changes, particularly in freshmen, this fall,” USA Today reported.
Shapiro, USA Today wrote, said the enrollment declines were originally not projected to start until next year, or even the year after.
“There have been so many different headwinds,” Shapiro said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
