CURRENT

Term
Enrollment
ESTIMATESFALL 2021

Overview: Fall 2021 Enrollment Estimates
Current Term Enrollment Estimates Report Series
is published every December and May by the
National Student Clearinghouse ResearchCenter. It provides national enrollment
estimates by degree level, institutional sector,
enrollment intensity, age group, gender, major
field as well as state-level enrollment estimates.
Enrollment estimates are adjusted forClearinghouse data coverage rates byinstitutional sector, state, and year. As
of fall 2019, postsecondary institutions
actively submitting enrollment data to theClearinghouse account for 97 percent of thetotal enrollments at Title IV, degree-granting
institutions in the U.S. Most institutions submit
enrollment data several times per term,
resulting in highly current data. Moreover, since
the Clearinghouse collects data at the student
level, it is possible to report an unduplicatedstudent headcount, which avoids doublecounting students who are simultaneously
enrolled at multiple institutions.

Total postsecondary enrollment declined by 2.7 percent or 476,100 students in fall 2021, for a total two-year
decline of 5.1 percent or 937,500 students since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic (see Table 1 andFigure 1 for historical trends). Undergraduate enrollment alone fell by 3.1 percent or 465,300 students over lastyear while graduate enrollment is down less than half a percent (-0.4% or 10,800 students; see Table 3).
Undergraduate enrollment declined across all institution sectors, with private for-profit four-year colleges
suffering the steepest percentage drop (-11.1% or 65,500 students) and public four-year institutions losing thelargest number of students (251,400 or -3.8%) compared to the previous year (Table 3). Enrollment declines
at community colleges were less severe this fall (-3.4% or 161,800 students) than in 2020, but the number ofassociate degree-seeking students enrolled at four-year institutions fell much more steeply compared to theprevious year (-11.0% at public four-year, -6.2% at private nonprofit four-year, and -11.9% at private for-profit
four-year institutions). Public two-year colleges remain the hardest hit sector since the start of the pandemic(-13.2% or 706,100 students over 2019). Private nonprofit four-year undergraduate enrollment decreased by
2.2 percent or 58,700 students this fall. Public institutions (two-year and four-year combined), which enroll threeout of every four undergraduates, showed a 3.1 percent decline or nearly 398,600 student losses.
Freshman enrollment stabilized this fall following a precipitous decline last year, up about 0.4% or 8,100
students (see Table 2). However, far from recovering from last year’s drop, this fall’s freshman class was 9.2
percent smaller (or 213,400 fewer students) compared to pre-pandemic levels in fall 2019. Notably, private
nonprofit four-year colleges led this fall’s freshmen increase (+2.9% or 11,600 students), followed by public twoyear colleges (+0.4% or 3,000 students). Freshman enrollment continued to decline in other sectors this fall.
Nationally, full-time enrollment decreased by 2.9 percent or 327,300 students and part-time enrollment by 2.4
percent or 148,800 students (see Table 4). While full-time enrollment declined more steeply than part-timeenrollment in public colleges, private colleges experienced the opposite trend.
Adult students (age 24 and older) saw the sharpest relative enrollment decline this fall (-3.4% or 210,800
students), largely driven by steep declines at four-year colleges (see Table 5). Traditional college-age students(18-24) declined by 2.4 percent or 254,100 students, with the sharpest declines in the public two-year college
sector (-5.3% or 135,400 students). Dual enrolled high school students (under 18) increased at public two-year
institutions but fell at public and private nonprofit four-year institutions (+1.5%, -6.9%, and -1.1%, respectively).

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ESTIMATESFALL 2021

Difference from the COVID-19 Stay Informed
report series
As with the previous reports, the Fall 2021 CTEE
provides estimated postsecondary enrollment
numbers based on the Clearinghouse
universe of institutions, after accounting fordata coverage rates. This differs from the Stay
Informed report series that is designed toquantify the immediate effects of COVID-19 by
analyzing year-over-year percentage change inunadjusted, preliminary data for fixed panels
of institutions that reported data in the samemonth each year from fall 2019 to fall 2021. The
estimated enrollment numbers presented in
the CTEE report may differ from the results of
the Stay Informed reports due to the difference
in methodology and institution coverage.

By state, fall enrollment dropped in all but four states (Arizona, Colorado, New Hampshire, and South Carolina).
State-level enrollment trends are also shown by institution sector (see Tables 9a and 9b).
Enrollment in each of the five largest undergraduate majors at four-year colleges fell steeply this year
(Business, Health, Liberal Arts, Biology, and Engineering). Liberal Arts declined the most (-7.6%), while Computer
Sciences and Psychology (the 6th and 7th largest majors) grew by 1.3 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively(see Table 10). Among largest two-year college majors, Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting, andRelated Protective Services declined the most (-7.4%), while Computer Sciences and Engineering increased(+2.9% and +1.5%, respectively; see Table 11).

This fall, larger differences appeared between
the year-over-year percentage changes
reported in the two series compared to the year
before. These variances are primarily due to alarger number of institutions that submitted
data eligible for the CTEE report—33 percent
more institutions than the panel of institutions
used in the Stay Informed report released in
Nov 2021. Some of the added institutions had
atypical enrollment changes from 2020 to 2021.

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ESTIMATESFALL 2021

Figure 1. Percent Change in Total Enrollment from Previous Year by Institutional Sector: 2017 to 2021

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Table 1. Estimated National Enrollment by Institutional Sector: 2019 to 2021
Fall 2021

Fall 2020

Fall 2019

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

Total Enrollment (All Sectors)

17,302,364-2.7%

17,778,484-2.5%

18,239,874-1.3%

Public 4-year

7,767,617-3.0%

8,004,360

0.2%

7,989,984-1.2%

Private nonprofit 4-year

3,776,285-1.6%

3,839,485-0.1%

3,842,930-0.6%

Private for-profit 4-year

716,472-9.3%

789,8885.3%

749,885-2.1%

Public 2-year

4,662,364-3.4%

4,824,204-10.1%

5,368,470-1.4%

Unduplicated Student Headcount(All Sectors)

17,054,375-2.5%

17,491,813-2.6%

17,965,287-1.3%

SectorUNDERSTANDING THE NUMBERS
Table 1 provides counts of total fall term enrollments (undergraduate and graduate) submitted to the Clearinghouse by November each year. Enrollments areheadcounts (full-time and part-time), representing one student in one institution, and thus would count twice a student enrolled simultaneously at two institutions.
The unduplicated headcount provides the number of unique students with no double-counting. This figure can be used to determine the percentage of concurrent
enrollments in any given year. In each term, fewer than 2.0 percent of total enrollments can be accounted for by students enrolling in more than one institution.
Institutional classifications for the current term are based on the most recently available IPEDS institutional characteristics for control and highest credential awarded, atthe time of publication. Less-than-two-year institutions have been aggregated with two-year institutions. Private nonprofit two-year and for-profit two-year enrollments are
not shown in the table due to small counts, but enrollments from these sectors are included in the overall totals. Additional notes on data and coverage are included at
the end of this report.

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Table 2. Estimated First-Time Freshman Enrollment by Institutional Sector: 2015 to 2021
Fall 2021
SectorAll Sectors

Public4-yearPrivatenonprofit
4-yearFall 2020*

Enrollment%
ChangefromPreviousYear

Fall 2019*

Fall 2018*

Fall 2017*

Enrollment%
ChangefromPreviousYear%%
ChangeChangefromEnrollment
from
Enrollment
Previous
Previous
Year
Year

Fall 2016*

Fall 2015*

Enrollment%
ChangefromPrevious
Year

Enrollment

Age Group

Enrollment%
ChangefromPreviousYear

All Ages

2,116,631

0.4%

2,108,579-9.5%

2,330,022-1.8%

2,372,541-4.4%

2,481,066-2.2%

2,537,955-2.1%

2,592,703

24 or Younger

1,955,529-0.1%

1,957,665-8.6%

2,143,023-1.4%

2,172,855-3.4%

2,248,636-0.9%

2,269,512-1.3%

2,299,438

Over 24

161,1036.8%

150,914-19.3%

186,999-6.4%

199,686-14.1%

232,430-13.4%

268,444-8.5%

293,265

All Ages

907,878-0.5%

912,840-5.3%

964,340-2.0%

984,330

0.4%

980,177-0.8%

988,016-0.7%

994,91224 or Younger

878,208-0.9%

885,807-4.5%

927,723-1.9%

945,672-0.5%

950,363-0.3%

953,444-0.3%

956,695

Over 24

29,6699.8%

27,033-26.2%

36,618-5.3%

38,65829.7%

29,814-13.8%

34,571-9.5%

38,217All Ages

407,8142.9%

396,228-6.3%

423,064-3.6%

438,777

1.4%

432,697-2.4%

443,121-1.3%

448,839

24 or Younger

385,304

3.6%

371,912-6.9%

399,426-3.4%

413,562-0.1%

413,851-1.4%

419,931-0.5%

421,886

Over 24

22,510-7.4%

24,316

2.9%

23,638-6.3%

25,21533.8%

18,845-18.7%

23,190-14.0%

26,953

Privatefor-profit
4-yearAll Ages

35,846-21.1%

45,44636.6%

33,266-1.0%

33,615-37.2%

53,550-9.3%

59,072-23.2%

76,94424 or Younger

16,963-22.4%

21,86726.8%

17,245-0.8%

17,384-36.2%

27,239-5.4%

28,804-23.6%

37,687

Over 24

18,884-19.9%

23,57947.2%

16,022-1.3%

16,230-38.3%

26,311-13.1%

30,268-22.9%

39,257

Public2-yearAll Ages

711,7170.4%

708,735-18.2%

866,286-0.1%

866,912-9.7%

960,165-2.4%

984,030-2.6%

1,010,633

24 or Younger

626,017-1.4%

634,931-16.4%

759,6490.9%

752,530-8.3%

821,045-0.7%

826,555-2.0%

843,375

Over 24

85,70016.1%

73,804-30.8%

106,637-6.8%

114,382-17.8%

139,120-11.7%

157,474-5.8%

167,257* Please note that freshmen data for 2015-2020 have been revised to correct a weighting error. The current table shows the corrected most accurate data currently available.
Errata have been issued for all previously published freshmen data in the earlier CTEE reports in which they appeared.

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ESTIMATESFALL 2021

UNDERSTANDING THE NUMBERS
Table 2 provides counts of fall term enrollments for undergraduate students entering college for the first time. Starting with the fall of 2020, first-time students are defined as those
who had no enrollment or degree and/or certificate award records at a Title IV U.S. institution prior to fall 2020, unless the previous enrollment record was before a student turned
18 years old, or before the student graduated from high school (dual enrollment). For years prior to 2020, counts of first-time freshman students are limited to students who had nocollege enrollment at age 18 or above prior to the beginning of the fall term and had not completed a college credential prior to the beginning of the fall term. The addition of highschool graduation data helps to identify freshmen more accurately than age alone, but is typically only available for less than half of the most recent graduating classes and leads
to relatively small changes in the results. As in the past, former dual enrollment students, first-time college students who had previously enrolled in college courses while still in highschool, are included in the counts of first-time students.

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Table 3. Estimated National Enrollment by Institutional Sector and Program Level: 2019 to 2021
Fall 2021
Sector

Program Level
Undergraduate (All)All Sectors

Public 4-year

Private nonprofit
4-yearPrivate for-profit
4-yearPublic 2-year

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Fall 2020

Fall 2019

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

14,441,432-3.1%

14,906,750-3.6%

15,467,001-1.7%

Associate Degree-Seeking

4,351,630-6.2%

4,638,801-8.4%

5,064,657-2.8%

Bachelor’s Degree-Seeking

8,214,854-3.0%

8,470,450-0.9%

8,548,717-0.9%

Other Undergraduate

1,874,949

4.3%

1,797,499-3.0%

1,853,626-2.0%

Graduate/Professional

2,860,932-0.4%

2,871,734

3.6%

2,772,873

0.8%

Undergraduate (All)6,344,722-3.8%

6,596,078-0.7%

6,644,260-1.7%

Associate Degree-Seeking

496,095-11.0%

557,260-5.9%

592,162-6.6%

Bachelor’s Degree-Seeking

5,449,437-3.0%

5,618,174-0.5%

5,648,249-1.4%

Other Undergraduate

399,189-5.1%

420,6444.2%

403,849

2.0%

Graduate/Professional

1,422,895

1.0%

1,408,282

4.6%

1,345,724

1.2%

Undergraduate (All)2,560,584-2.2%

2,619,271-1.4%

2,655,124-1.0%

Associate Degree-Seeking

93,203-6.2%

99,328-4.0%

103,520-5.3%

Bachelor’s Degree-Seeking

2,359,235-1.8%

2,401,737-1.3%

2,434,579-0.7%

108,146-8.5%

118,206

1.0%

117,025-1.7%

Graduate/Professional

Other Undergraduate

1,215,700-0.4%1,220,214

2.7%

1,187,806

0.3%

Undergraduate (All)521,824-11.1%

587,2896.4%

551,873-2.7%

Associate Degree-Seeking

91,716-11.9%

104,131

5.4%

98,768-5.7%

Bachelor’s Degree-Seeking

363,878-10.9%

408,174-0.1%

408,563-0.4%

Other Undergraduate

66,230-11.7%

74,98468.3%

44,542-14.6%

Graduate/Professional

194,648-3.9%

202,599

2.3%

198,013-0.2%

Undergraduate (All)4,662,364-3.4%

4,824,204-10.1%

5,368,470-1.4%

Associate Degree-Seeking

3,569,983-5.5%

3,776,979-10.0%

4,198,108-1.5%

Other Undergraduate

1,092,382

4.3%

1,047,225-10.5%

1,170,362

-1.2%

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ESTIMATESFALL 2021

UNDERSTANDING THE NUMBERS
Table 3 provides enrollment counts by program level. The other undergraduate category includes: Undergraduate certificate/diploma, teacher preparation and special
non-credential programs that have been classified by institutions as undergraduate programs, as well as enrollments that are not part of any structured program. The
graduate/professional category includes: post-baccalaureate certificate, master’s degree, doctoral degree, first-professional degree, graduate/professional certificate, andspecial non-credential programs that have been specifically classified by institutions as graduate-level programs.

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Table 4. Estimated National Enrollment by Institutional Sector and Enrollment Intensity: 2019 to 2021
Fall 2021
SectorAll Sectors
Public 4-year
Private nonprofit
4-yearPrivate for-profit
4-yearPublic 2-year

Fall 2020

Fall 2019

Enrollment
Intensity

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

Full-Time

11,146,385-2.9%

11,473,724-2.2%

11,734,219-0.9%Part-Time

6,155,980-2.4%

6,304,760-3.1%

6,505,655-2.1%

Full-Time

5,710,815-3.2%

5,902,439-0.8%

5,947,219-0.8%Part-Time

2,056,802-2.1%

2,101,921

2.9%

2,042,764-2.4%

Full-Time

2,978,550-1.2%

3,015,537-1.3%

3,056,173-0.1%

Part-Time

797,735-3.2%

823,949

4.7%

786,758-2.4%

Full-Time

444,800-8.2%

484,6856.1%

456,846-3.5%

Part-Time

271,672-11.0%

305,202

4.2%

293,039

0.3%

Full-Time

1,690,677-7.3%

1,823,674-10.6%

2,039,841-1.1%Part-Time

2,971,688-1.0%

3,000,529-9.9%

3,328,629-1.6%

UNDERSTANDING THE NUMBERS
Table 4 provides enrollment counts by the enrollment intensity of the student. The part-time category includes enrollments reported to the Clearinghouse as threequarter time, half-time, and less-than-half-time. Enrollment intensity is defined by the institution and based on the earliest data submitted for a student in any given term.
As a result, the intensity generally reflects the student’s intended workload at the beginning of the term. Less-than-two-year institutions have been aggregated with twoyear institutions. Private nonprofit two-year and for-profit two-year enrollments are not shown in the table due to small counts, but enrollments from these sectors areincluded in the overall totals.

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Table 5. Estimated National Enrollment by Institutional Sector and Age Group: 2019 to 2021
Fall 2021
SectorAll Sectors

Public 4-year

Private nonprofit
4-yearPrivate for-profit
4-yearPublic 2-year

Age Group

Enrollment

Fall 2020% Change from
Previous Year

Enrollment

Fall 2019% Change from
Previous Year

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

Under 18

1,039,737-1.1%

1,050,968

0.8%

1,042,526

3.4%

18 to 24

10,339,034-2.4%

10,593,139-3.7%

10,999,757-1.0%Over 24

5,923,593-3.4%

6,134,378-1.0%

6,197,591-2.7%

Under 18

298,076-6.9%

320,1023.3%

309,867

0.5%

18 to 24

5,357,952-2.6%

5,502,534-0.7%

5,538,723-0.7%Over 24

2,111,589-3.2%

2,181,724

1.9%

2,141,394-2.6%

Under 18

73,409-1.1%

74,228-3.0%

76,517-2.0%

18 to 24

2,201,437-1.0%2,223,668-1.9%

2,266,855-0.2%Over 24

1,501,438-2.6%

1,541,590

2.8%

1,499,558-1.1%

Under 18

2,891

6.0%

2,727

12.3%

2,428

-5.1%

18 to 24

150,938-2.9%

155,500

10.7%

140,496-1.3%

Over 24562,643-10.9%

631,6614.1%

606,962-2.2%

Under 18

660,7761.5%

650,965-0.5%

654,116

5.9%

18 to 24

2,438,875-5.3%

2,574,266-11.9%

2,923,214-1.5%

Over 24

1,562,714-2.3%

1,598,973-10.7%

1,791,139-3.7%

UNDERSTANDING THE NUMBERS
Table 5 provides enrollment counts by student age group. This table includes all fall enrollments reported to the Clearinghouse, regardless of whether the student is
enrolled in a credential-seeking program. Student age is calculated as of the first day of the term (a date specific to the institution). Less-than-two-year institutions havebeen aggregated with two-year institutions. Private nonprofit two-year and for-profit two-year enrollments are not shown in the table due to small counts, but enrollmentsfrom these sectors are included in the overall totals. Additional notes on data and coverage are included in the report.

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Table 6. Average Age of Students by Program Level, Institutional Sector, and Enrollment Intensity: 2017 to 2021
Average Age (Years)
Fall 2021
Program Level

SectorAll Sectors

Undergraduate(All)

Fall 2019

Fall 2018

Fall 2017

Full-TimePart-Time

Full-TimePart-Time

Full-TimePart-Time

Full-TimePart-Time

Full-TimePart-Time

22

27

22

27

22

27

22

27

22

27

Public 4-year

21

27

21

27

21

27

21

27

21

27

Private nonprofit 4-year

22

31

22

31

22

31

22

32

22

32

Private for-profit 4-year

32

33

32

33

32

33

32

34

32

34

Public 2-year

22

26

22

26

22

26

22

26

23

27

All Sectors
Graduate/
Professional

Fall 2020

30

35

30

35

30

35

30

35

30

35

Public 4-year

28

34

28

34

28

34

28

34

28

34

Private nonprofit 4-year

30

35

30

35

30

35

30

35

30

35

Private for-profit 4-year

38

39

38

39

38

39

38

39

38

39

UNDERSTANDING THE NUMBERS
Table 6 provides the average age of students by program level, sector, and enrollment intensity. A student’s age is determined as of the first day of his or her enrollment
in the current term. The first date of enrollment can vary depending on the academic term used by the institution. The part-time category includes enrollments reported
to the Clearinghouse as three-quarter time, half-time, and less-than-half-time. Enrollment intensity is defined by the institution and based on the earliest data submitted
for a student in any given term.

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Table 7. Average Age of Students by Program Level, Institutional Sector, and Gender: 2020 to 2021
Fall 2021
Program Level

Sector

Women

Men

Women

Average(yrs.)Median(yrs.)

Average(yrs.)Median(yrs.)

Average(yrs.)Median(yrs.)

Average(yrs.)

21

23

21

24

21

23

21

24

Public 4-year

20

22

20

23

21

22

20

23

Private nonprofit 4-year

20

23

21

24

20

23

21

24

Private for-profit 4-year

30

32

31

33

31

32

31

32

Public 2-year

20

24

21

25

20

24

21

25

28

31

28

32

28

31

28

32

Public 4-year

28

31

28

31

28

30

28

31

Private nonprofit 4-year

28

32

28

32

29

32

28

32

Private for-profit 4-year

37

39

37

38

37

39

37

38

All Sectors
Graduate/
Professional

Men
Median(yrs.)All Sectors
Undergraduate(All)

Fall 2020

UNDERSTANDING THE NUMBERS
Table 7 provides the median and average ages of students by program level, sector, and gender. There was little change in the average age of students from fall 2019 tofall 2020 (the 2019 data is not shown in the table). A student’s age is determined as of the first day of his or her enrollment in the current term. The first date of enrollment
can vary depending on the academic term used by the institution. Additional notes on data, coverage, and imputation of gender are included at the end of the report.

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Table 8. Estimated National Enrollment by Institutional Sector, and Gender: 2019 to 2021
Fall 2021
SectorAll Sectors
Public 4-year
Private nonprofit 4-year
Private for-profit 4-year
Public 2-year

Fall 2020

Fall 2019

GenderEnrollment% Change from
Previous Year

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

Enrollment% Change from
Previous YearMen

7,059,178-2.2%

7,217,092-5.1%

7,606,756

-2.0%

Women

10,243,187-3.0%

10,561,392-0.7%

10,633,118

-0.8%

Men

3,296,535-3.6%

3,420,654-1.6%

3,477,314

-2.0%

Women

4,471,082-2.5%

4,583,706

1.6%

4,512,670

-0.6%

Men

1,485,664-2.3%

1,520,695-1.0%

1,535,530

-1.2%

Women

2,290,620-1.2%

2,318,791

0.5%

2,307,400

-0.2%

Men

239,599-3.6%

248,600

3.2%

240,952

-4.0%

Women

476,873-11.9%

541,2886.4%

508,933

-1.1%

Men

1,891,359-1.7%

1,923,969-14.7%

2,256,354

-2.2%

Women

2,771,005-4.5%

2,900,235-6.8%

3,112,115-0.8%

UNDERSTANDING THE NUMBERS
Table 8 provides enrollment counts by gender. Institutions reported student gender to the Clearinghouse for about one-half of all students. Gender was imputed basedon first name for all other students. Less-than-two-year institutions have been aggregated with two-year institutions. Private nonprofit two-year and for-profit two-year
enrollments are not shown in the table due to small counts, but enrollments from these sectors are included in the overall totals. Additional notes on data, coverage, andimputation of gender are included at the end of the report.

nscresearchcenter.org

13

CURRENT

Term
Enrollment
ESTIMATESFALL 2021

Table 9a. Estimated Enrollment by State of Institution: 2019 to 2021
Fall 2021

Fall 2020

Fall 2019

State

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

Alabama

275,700-0.6%

277,494-3.1%

286,421-1.1%

Alaska19,551-3.4%

20,234-9.1%

22,268-10.6%

Arizona

465,716

1.6%

458,3460.4%

456,543

1.8%

Arkansas

131,279-3.8%

136,514-5.1%

143,895-4.9%

California

2,199,735-4.3%

2,298,754-6.1%

2,446,867-0.8%

Colorado

281,579

1.1%

278,603-3.2%

287,781-2.2%

Connecticut

174,186-1.9%

177,519-3.5%

183,981-1.6%

Delaware50,703-7.1%

54,577-3.2%

56,3880.3%

Florida928,395-1.8%

945,471

1.3%

933,180-5.3%

Georgia

514,575-1.1%

520,2710.3%

518,826

1.5%

Hawaii49,401-2.0%

50,407-0.6%

50,697

-2.6%

Idaho

98,018-3.4%

101,4461.2%

100,270-0.7%

Illinois543,628-2.3%

556,155-4.8%

583,960-2.4%

Indiana

317,129-4.0%

330,373-3.6%

342,615

-2.0%

Iowa

174,846-3.0%

180,201-5.3%

190,209-3.2%

Kansas164,245-3.7%

170,584-4.5%

178,623-3.3%

Kentucky

241,099-2.1%

246,3291.2%

243,299

1.5%

Louisiana

218,739-0.8%

220,529-2.4%

225,868

0.6%

Maine

59,309-4.6%

62,186-1.7%

63,259-1.7%

Maryland

319,069-5.0%

336,0380.5%

334,442-1.0%

Massachusetts

396,236-3.6%

411,052-4.0%

427,958-1.3%

Michigan

430,017-1.7%

437,480-9.2%

482,058-2.9%

Minnesota

338,183-2.1%

345,450-0.5%

347,114-2.2%

Mississippi*

148,561-3.2%

153,428-6.4%

163,966

0.3%

Missouri

298,402-3.9%

310,414-4.0%

323,361-4.4%

Montana

42,719-1.7%

43,460-4.5%

45,492-2.4%

Nebraska

127,210-1.2%

128,694

1.2%

127,113

0.4%

Nevada103,746-2.3%

106,158-3.8%

110,348

0.3%

New Hampshire

198,9889.3%

182,02015.8%

157,248

3.4%

New Jersey

339,232-5.4%

358,630-4.2%

374,348-1.4%

New Mexico

94,334-5.6%

99,900-9.5%

110,427-1.3%

New York

949,456-5.2%

1,001,361-4.1%

1,044,388-1.8%North Carolina

508,274-1.2%

514,671-1.9%

524,679

0.6%

North Dakota

47,091-1.9%

48,008-2.0%

48,966

-0.7%

Ohio*

529,239-4.9%

556,354-6.3%

593,527-0.9%

Oklahoma

170,291-4.0%

177,360-0.6%

178,411-2.2%

Oregon173,878-4.9%

182,820-7.9%

198,518-2.7%

Pennsylvania

598,437-3.4%

619,699-3.1%

639,366-2.3%

Rhode Island

63,921-1.0%

64,596-6.0%

68,7390.3%

South Carolina

226,167

1.1%

223,796-2.8%

230,256

0.1%

South Dakota

43,210-3.1%

44,592-3.1%

46,019-2.0%

Tennessee

286,287-0.9%

288,999-5.0%

304,279

0.6%

Texas

1,428,231-2.1%

1,459,543-2.1%

1,490,953

0.3%

Utah

378,964

0.0%

378,855

4.8%

361,652

4.9%

Vermont

34,954-6.6%

37,424-2.0%

38,207-4.4%

Virginia

490,883-1.2%

496,9112.8%

483,606-0.5%

Washington*

261,315-10.6%

292,382-7.0%

314,380-0.8%West Virginia

133,296-4.5%

139,5211.3%

137,665-2.1%

Wisconsin

274,494-2.7%

282,038-4.5%

295,341-3.0%

Wyoming

25,727-6.1%

27,412-0.8%

27,644-4.4%

Multi-State Institutions

601,006-9.6%

665,1191.7%

653,948-2.0%*Large declines between 2019 and 2020 are due to a single institution with relatively large enrollments that has not submitted data as of 11/19/2020.

UNDERSTANDING THE NUMBERS
Table 9a provides enrollment counts by the state where the institution is located. Institutions that span multiple states have been included in a separate line called“multi-state institutions.” Enrollments for these institutions are not included in any of the other state-level totals.

nscresearchcenter.org

14

CURRENT

Term
Enrollment
ESTIMATESFALL 2021

Table 9b. Estimated Enrollment by State of Institution and Sector: 2019 to 2021
Public 2-Year
Fall 2021

State

Enrollment

Alabama

68,756

Alaska-Arizona

142,362

Fall 2020%
ChangefromPrevious
Year

6.7%
-0.4%

Enrollment

Public 4-Year
Fall 2019% Change
from
Enrollment
PreviousYear

64,420--14.5%-

142,948-10.2%

75,358

Fall 2021% Change
fromPrevious
Year

Enrollment

Fall 2020% Change
fromPrevious
Year

Enrollment

Private Nonprofit 4-Year
Fall 2019

Fall 2021% Change
fromPrevious
Year

Enrollment% Change
fromPreviousYear

Fall 2020

Enrollment% Change
fromPrevious
Year

Enrollment-12.0%

22,704

Fall 2019% Change
fromPrevious
Year

-2.5%

168,124-0.7%

169,227

1.7%

166,388-1.1%

19,981-

18,693-5.0%

19,683-9.2%

21,681-10.9%----

159,259-3.8%

206,278

1.7%

202,8815.4%

192,422

5.6%

-

-

-

-

-

Other

1.3%

Enrollment

22,412

Fall 2021% Change
fromPrevious
Year

Enrollment

Fall 2020% Change
fromPrevious
Year

Enrollment

Fall 2019% Change
fromPrevious
Year

Enrollment% Change
fromPrevious
Year

0.6%

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Arkansas

34,313

9.4%

31,361-20.0%

39,224-1.3%

83,766-7.5%

90,564

1.2%

89,452-7.0%

12,350-8.6%

13,508-4.8%

14,185-0.5%-

California

1,054,615-9.9%

1,170,774-11.7%

1,326,319-1.7%

722,451-2.9%

743,923

1.2%

734,8690.6%

270,581-2.3%

277,039-3.0%

285,6560.1%

152,088

Colorado

59,280-1.5%

60,162-12.7%

68,944-2.7%

170,323-3.1%

175,792-1.9%

179,186-1.7%

29,971

1.9%

29,416

1.8%

28,908

-2.0%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Connecticut

36,238-4.7%

38,032-15.3%

44,889-4.7%

58,161-3.5%

60,281-1.5%

61,193-3.1%

64,526

1.7%

63,445-3.2%

65,547

-1.4%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Delaware

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

42.1%

-

107,017

-

7.0%

-

100,022

-

-1.1%

-

Florida38,6395.9%36,476-15.5%

43,154

0.2%

679,771-4.1%

708,641-0.2%

709,977-6.6%

143,344-1.7%

145,867-0.7%

146,918-1.2%

66,642

22.3%

54,48664.5%

33,130-2.2%

Georgia

116,783-2.6%

119,928-7.9%

130,249

20.0%

317,855-2.8%

327,1092.9%

317,739-4.4%

69,818-1.8%

71,0793.1%

68,9640.8%

10,118369.6%

2,155

14.9%

1,875

3.4%

Hawaii

15,915-8.5%

17,389-3.0%

17,933-3.8%

26,577

2.4%

25,941

2.1%

25,414

-1.5%

6,910

-2.4%

7,076

-3.7%

7,350

-3.1%

-

Idaho

16,630-6.6%

17,798

2.4%

17,381-5.3%

42,380-0.7%

42,688-5.2%

45,0500.0%

38,985-4.8%

40,951

8.3%

37,825

0.8%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Illinois

198,862-2.7%

204,464-10.8%

229,229-4.6%

165,775-1.3%

167,972

1.4%

165,648-0.1%

177,798-2.1%

181,641-2.7%

186,609

1.0%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Indiana--

186,280-2.2%

190,421-0.1%

190,691-1.4%

77,764-7.4%

84,017-2.7%

86,379

-3.8%

-

-

-

-

-

-

67,487-4.4%

67,834-2.6%

69,664-4.1%

72,636-2.9%

44,981-1.6%

45,711-2.4%

46,827

-2.5%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Iowa

59,240-3.9%

61,671

-8.6%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Kansas60,965-4.0%

63,486-5.3%

67,074-6.4%

86,720-3.5%

89,840-3.1%

92,750-0.8%

16,273-4.0%

16,944-8.3%

18,471

-3.9%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Kentucky

70,934-1.8%

72,220-2.8%

74,312

0.1%

114,460-1.3%

116,001

0.9%

114,927-0.3%

55,538-4.2%

57,9689.2%

53,102

8.2%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Louisiana

49,9160.0%

49,915-12.7%

57,2001.2%

140,936-3.8%

146,484

2.7%

142,692

0.2%

24,503

10.3%

22,221-8.2%

24,212

1.7%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Maine

11,124-16.4%

13,312-7.2%

14,341

3.2%

30,000-0.4%

30,1095.7%

28,473-1.9%

18,185-3.1%

18,766-8.2%

20,445

-4.8%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Maryland

92,613-9.7%

102,545-4.9%

107,794-3.9%

175,615-4.4%

183,770

3.6%

177,4140.6%

50,8402.2%

49,722

1.0%

49,2330.1%-

Massachusetts

58,691-6.2%

62,545-13.4%

72,245-0.7%

111,261-2.2%

113,737-1.2%

115,175-0.8%

223,436-3.6%

231,724-2.2%

236,886

-1.2%

2,849

Michigan

134,595

19.1%

112,968-20.5%

142,110-2.9%

243,471-9.5%

268,964-3.8%

279,637-2.4%

50,121-6.0%

53,295-8.0%

57,901-5.5%-

Minnesota

84,703-6.8%

90,867-1.3%

92,049-5.1%

103,981-2.6%

106,779-2.3%

109,337-1.9%

57,469-4.0%

59,879-1.4%

60,756-0.8%

92,031

Mississippi*

57,983-14.8%

68,037-6.0%

72,347

5.1%

75,537

9.0%

69,330-8.7%

75,967-3.1%

15,041-6.4%

16,061

2.6%

15,652-3.5%-

Missouri

67,357-3.9%

70,124-8.5%

76,654-5.5%

121,136-3.0%

124,887-1.8%

127,195-3.1%

107,119-4.0%

111,620-3.6%

115,769

-5.6%

2,789

Montana

6,354

8.7%

5,846

-11.7%

6,623

5.5%

33,2760.9%

32,968-5.4%

34,842

-3.8%

3,089

-33.5%

4,646

15.4%

4,027

-2.1%

-

-

Nebraska

34,643

2.1%

33,929-7.6%

36,725-3.4%

58,584

1.0%

58,031

2.3%

56,716-0.4%

33,367-4.7%

35,011

5.9%

33,0697.3%

616-64.2%

Nevada

9,850

-6.5%

10,539-7.7%

11,424

3.1%

90,812-2.8%

93,431-3.2%

96,502

1.8%

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

New Hampshire

9,600

-4.7%

10,078-8.5%

11,017-6.4%

23,002-4.1%

23,990-3.5%

24,873-3.4%

166,324

12.4%

147,94421.9%

121,358

6.0%

-

-

-

-

-

-

New Jersey

105,255-6.7%

112,764-11.6%

127,619-1.9%

169,166-6.1%

180,2340.2%

179,871-0.6%

61,553-0.8%

62,022-1.3%

62,817

-1.9%

-

-

-

-

-

-

New Mexico

40,668-6.6%

43,553-12.9%

49,9900.2%

51,679-5.4%

54,636-7.1%

58,820

-2.6%

1,987

16.1%

1,711

5.8%

1,618

-2.0%

-

-

-

-

-

-

New York

170,433-16.8%

204,788-12.0%

232,672-5.1%

347,600-6.4%

371,222-0.6%

373,461-0.5%

386,082-1.1%

390,488-2.6%

400,927-1.4%

45,34130.1%

34,862-6.6%

37,3292.0%

North Carolina

193,201-1.9%

196,959-6.1%

209,676

2.3%

234,9890.2%

234,543

1.8%

230,375

0.9%

78,380-3.8%

81,486-1.6%

82,775

-4.1%

1,703

1.2%

1,683

-9.2%

1,853

-0.4%

North Dakota

5,856

-2.2%

5,989

-5.7%

6,352

-1.0%

36,012-2.2%

36,815-0.7%

37,073

-1.9%

5,223

0.4%

5,204

-6.1%

5,540

8.2%

-

131,911-6.6%

141,253-18.4%

173,146

3.4%

278,630-5.5%

294,705-1.6%

299,407-2.2%

117,439-1.9%

119,708-0.3%

120,096

-3.6%

1,259

Ohio*

-

-

-

-

-6.4%
4.7%
-26.3%

3,045
87,925
3,783
1,723-16.6%
3.5%
1.1%

3,653
84,971
3,743-29.1%
-0.2%
16.2%

-

-

-

185.6%

603-19.2%

-

-

-

-

-

83.0%

688

-21.7%

878-9.3%

Oklahoma

46,056-6.6%

49,334-3.4%

51,074-0.7%

107,141-3.1%

110,589-0.4%

110,999-1.6%

15,586-2.5%

15,982

7.5%

14,866-11.5%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Oregon55,229-14.4%

64,493-12.0%

73,258-4.9%

87,595-4.8%

92,015

0.4%

91,627-1.3%

31,05418.1%

26,300-21.8%

33,634

-1.5%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Pennsylvania

82,914-13.1%

95,369-11.6%

107,863-1.5%

219,113-9.2%

241,359-2.6%

247,733

0.5%

212,784-7.9%

231,000-3.0%

238,134-2.0%

83,626

Rhode Island--

28,713

5.8%

27,145-8.1%

29,539

-0.3%

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

60.9%
-

-

-

-

-

-1.2%

74,283-5.6%

78,648-1.0%

112,691-1.7%

114,6210.2%

114,350

1.0%

29,442

1.9%

28,894-7.9%

31,387-1.1%

10,622

6,363-12.7%

7,285

3.0%

7,070

5.5%

30,314-0.6%

30,488-2.7%

31,338

-5.6%

6,522

-3.7%

6,771

-9.4%

7,477

8.1%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Tennessee

70,2302.0%

68,867-20.4%

86,493-0.7%

133,049-3.3%

137,595

1.0%

136,263

0.9%

71,169-4.0%

74,123-2.4%

75,929

-0.9%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Texas

607,7632.1%

595,332-8.0%

647,127

2.0%

668,881-6.5%

715,703

1.6%

704,1940.8%

121,131-4.8%

127,204

1.6%

125,156

-3.2%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Utah

33,8493.8%

32,6070.2%

32,544-0.8%

152,783-1.8%

155,536

1.4%

153,387

2.1%

187,8260.7%

186,449

8.1%

172,448

8.0%

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

17,293-10.9%

19,404-4.2%

20,2520.8%

12,088-3.0%

12,457-3.6%

12,917

-7.8%

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Virginia

119,081-6.6%

127,539-3.6%

132,324-4.0%

193,086-5.0%

203,2120.9%

201,4350.1%

134,123-3.5%

138,927

13.5%

122,394

1.9%

44,593

Washington*

52,464-16.9%

63,151-7.7%

68,437-0.8%

170,689-10.3%

190,231-7.4%

205,412-1.1%

37,257-2.1%

38,052-3.7%

39,510

1.2%

-

63.8%
-

27,232
-

-0.8%
-

5,869

-17.3%

73,412-

2.2%

45,636South Dakota

-

5,998

13.9%

South Carolina

Vermont

77.1%

51,971

27,453
-

5.0%

1.4%
-

West Virginia

11,685-4.6%

12,252-26.2%

16,612-0.6%

55,528-4.1%

57,895-0.7%

58,308

-1.8%

5,818

-14.7%

6,822

-5.7%

7,235

-7.3%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Wisconsin

76,927-3.3%

79,557-10.0%

88,404-13.2%

153,384-1.8%

156,266-2.1%

159,674

3.0%

44,183-4.4%

46,214-2.2%

47,263

-0.8%

-

-

-

-

-

-

Wyoming

14,675-7.5%

15,862

0.4%

15,796

-6.1%

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

UNDERSTANDING THE NUMBERS
Table 9b shows sector-level enrollments where data are reported by at least three institutions in the given sector; “ - “ indicates that data are suppressed because this threshold was not met (including sectors with no institutions).
Other institutional sectors are not shown due to the year-over-year variability or small enrollment sizes but all these institutions are included in state total enrollments.
For states that had data submission variability, use caution when comparing percent changes year over year: Four additional public two-year institutions were reported for 2021 than the previous year in MI; two more
public two-year institutions were included in 2021 for TN; and NE had one fewer institution reported for 2020 than the previous year in the “Other” category.

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ESTIMATESFALL 2021

Table 10. Estimated Undergraduate Enrollment by Major at Four-Year Institutions: 2019 to 2021
Fall 2021
Major(CIP Code)CIP Title

Fall 2020

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

Fall 2019

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

52

Business, Management,
Marketing, and Related
Support

1,513,307-3.6%

1,569,669-0.7%

1,580,972

-2.1%

51

Health Professions andRelated Programs

1,063,304-4.8%

1,116,965

1.4%

1,101,730

-2.1%

24

Liberal Arts and Sciences,
General Studies andHumanities (includes
undeclared)

964,427-7.6%

1,043,201-6.2%

1,112,378

-7.1%

26

Biological and Biomedical
Sciences594,879-4.2%

620,9200.1%

620,429-0.9%

14

Engineering

562,129-3.6%

583,208-2.0%

595,142-1.6%

11Computer and Information
Sciences and Support
Services

507,492

1.3%

501,205

5.6%

474,573

4.5%

42

Psychology

504,552

2.5%

492,305

6.9%

460,602

3.8%

13

Education

451,320-3.2%

466,2272.2%

456,274-2.3%

50Visual and Performing Arts

401,352

1.1%

396,891-2.2%

405,682

1.3%

45Social Sciences

398,495-4.4%

416,890-1.6%

423,552-1.6%

09

Communication, Journalism,
and Related Programs

273,086-8.3%

297,878-4.6%

312,373-2.1%

43Homeland Security, Law
Enforcement, Firefighting,and Related Protective
Services262,838-7.9%

285,250-0.3%

285,989-1.3%

30

Multi/Interdisciplinary
Studies

232,5990.0%

232,684-0.8%

234,609-2.0%

31

Parks, Recreation, Leisureand Fitness Studies

226,650-3.2%

234,1171.2%

231,375-1.9%

44

Public Administration andSocial Service Professions

125,063-5.9%

132,871-0.2%

133,117-2.4%

40

Physical Sciences

121,222-7.2%

130,557-5.2%

137,675-4.6%

23

English Language andLiterature/Letters

112,682-6.2%

120,097-7.3%

129,606-5.0%

01

Agriculture, Agriculture
Operations, and Related
Sciences

96,517

7.3%

89,968-1.7%

91,498-1.9%

15

Engineering Technologies
and Engineering-Related
Fields95,629-5.0%

100,675-3.9%

104,749-1.9%

03

Natural Resources andConservation

83,193

0.5%

82,773

0.5%

82,3332.0%

27

Mathematics and Statistics

80,984-5.6%

85,805-2.9%

88,371-1.2%

54

History

77,937-2.9%

80,240-1.9%

81,831-2.4%

19

Family and Consumer
Sciences/Human Sciences

77,159-10.4%

86,121-5.7%

91,361-3.0%

16Foreign Languages,
Literatures, and Linguistics

51,188

4.3%

49,068-8.5%

53,651-3.7%

04

Architecture and Related
Services

47,426

3.1%

45,992

3.1%

44,5893.3%

49Transportation andMaterials Moving

34,438-2.0%

35,133

6.9%

32,8609.4%

38Philosophy and Religious
Studies

30,056

2.4%

29,361-5.4%

31,029-3.7%

39

Theology and Religious
Vocations24,885-3.9%

25,890-2.3%

26,500-9.1%

10Communications
Technologies/Techniciansand Support Services

24,34018.7%

20,500-4.7%

21,506

7.8%

22

Legal Professions andStudies

23,579-5.8%

25,0195.4%

23,735-1.4%

05

Area, Ethnic, Cultural,
Gender, and Group Studies

22,8070.0%

22,808-7.5%

24,6462.1%

12Personal and Culinary
Services

17,1937.0%

16,076

6.4%

15,111-6.6%

47

Mechanic and Repair
Technologies/Technicians

13,743-5.7%

14,575-1.8%

14,841-5.1%

46Construction Trades

6,876-16.3%

8,215

-4.3%

8,583

-0.6%

41

Science Technologies/
Technicians

6,225-14.7%

7,295-14.0%

8,479

-2.6%

48

Precision Production

4,665

-1.3%

4,728

-16.0%

5,627

7.5%

UNDERSTANDING THE NUMBERS
Table 10 provides college enrollment totals disaggregated by Classification of Instructional Program Family codes. The table excludes the following CIP family codes,
each of which had total enrollments of less than 5,000: 25 (Library Science), 28 (Military Science, Leadership, and Operational Art), 29 (Military Technologies and Applied
Sciences), 32 (Basic Skills and Developmental/Remedial Education), 33 (Citizenship Activities), 34 (Health-Related Knowledge and Skills), 35 (Interpersonal and Social Skills),
36 (Leisure and Recreational Activities), 37 (Personal Awareness and Self-Improvement), 53 (High School/Secondary Diplomas and Certificates), 60 (Residency Programs).

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ESTIMATESFALL 2021

Table 11. Estimated Undergraduate Enrollment by Major at Two-Year Institutions: 2019 to 2021
Fall 2021
Major(CIP Code)CIP Family Title

Fall 2020

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

Fall 2019

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

Enrollment% Change from
Previous Year

24

Liberal Arts and Sciences,
General Studies andHumanities (includes
undeclared)

1,472,937-5.0%

1,550,498-11.9%

1,759,898

-4.4%

51

Health Professions andRelated Programs

785,020-2.2%

802,489-2.3%

821,100-2.5%

52

Business, Management,
Marketing, and Related
Support

516,031-0.6%

518,941-9.2%

571,303-2.9%

11

Computer and Information
Sciences and Support
Services

217,705

2.9%

211,488-4.2%

220,669

1.0%

43Homeland Security, Law
Enforcement, Firefighting, andRelated Protective Services

150,032-7.4%

162,080-14.7%

190,019-4.1%

50

Visual and Performing Arts

129,780

0.6%

128,999-14.2%

150,357

0.7%

30Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

113,134-2.1%

115,600-12.6%

132,243-3.2%

26

Biological and Biomedical
Sciences

107,272-5.6%

113,581-1.2%

115,017

3.7%

15

Engineering Technologies
and Engineering-Related
Fields101,041

1.5%

99,590-14.5%

116,467-2.8%

13

Education

99,549-3.5%

103,121-6.7%

110,516-2.2%

42

Psychology

98,567

1.6%

97,024

4.4%

92,936

7.8%

47

Mechanic and Repair
Technologies/Technicians

97,587

7.0%

91,201-15.9%

108,490

1.4%

19

Family and Consumer
Sciences/Human Sciences

74,369-3.0%

76,707-11.6%

86,793-5.2%

14

Engineering

72,282-3.6%

75,018-9.3%

82,727-1.6%

46

Construction Trades

64,051

17.5%

54,496-10.9%

61,1808.6%

45Social Sciences

63,228-7.4%

68,274-9.8%

75,663-2.2%

12Personal and Culinary
Services

56,396

6.2%

53,116-17.2%

64,179-2.1%

48

Precision Production

52,9589.9%

48,204-18.4%

59,0381.8%

31

Parks, Recreation, Leisureand Fitness Studies

43,694-4.6%

45,816-6.7%

49,1061.6%01

Agriculture, Agriculture
Operations, and Related
Sciences

40,51340.8%

28,777-2.2%

29,438-6.5%

09Communication, Journalism,
and Related Programs

37,400-9.3%

41,225-11.6%

46,647-0.4%

44

Public Administration andSocial Service Professions

31,710-2.3%

32,470-5.4%

34,324-4.2%

40

Physical Sciences

26,556-17.5%

32,191-17.3%

38,933-4.6%

22

Legal Professions and Studies

26,555

1.2%

26,237-2.4%

26,896

1.9%

10Communications
Technologies/Techniciansand Support Services

26,307-1.0%

26,572-16.2%

31,725

2.6%

23

English Language andLiterature/Letters

22,600-8.3%

24,640-14.3%

28,760-4.8%

41

Science Technologies/
Technicians

22,104-2.7%

22,715-2.6%

23,331

24.3%

16Foreign Languages,
Literatures, and Linguistics

17,079-4.6%

17,905-5.0%

18,849-4.7%

27

Mathematics and Statistics

16,724-12.6%

19,146-8.5%

20,934

1.5%

54

History

11,248-2.2%

11,498-3.9%

11,971-2.5%

03

Natural Resources andConservation

9,615

0.4%

9,572

-2.0%

9,765

1.0%

49

Transportation and Materials
Moving

9,739

13.7%

8,565

-10.8%

9,603

-0.5%

32

Basic Skills andDevelopmental/Remedial
Education

8,780

15.3%

7,613

-37.0%

12,084-0.4%

04Architecture and Related
Services

7,604

5.8%

7,190

-1.7%

7,316

6.1%

UNDERSTANDING THE NUMBERS
Table 11 provides college enrollment totals disaggregated by Classification of Instructional Program Family codes. The table excludes the following CIP family codes,
each of which had total enrollments of less than 5,000: 05 (Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies), 25 (Library Science), 28 (Military Science, Leadership, andOperational Art), 29 (Military Technologies and Applied Sciences), 33 (Citizenship Activities), 34 (Health-Related Knowledge and Skills), 35 (Interpersonal and Social Skills),
36 (Leisure and Recreational Activities), 37 (Personal Awareness and Self-Improvement), 38 (Philosophy and Religious Studies), 39 (Theology and Religious Vocations),
53 (High School/Secondary Diplomas and Certificates), 60 (Residency Programs).
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ESTIMATESFALL 2021

Methodological Notes
National Coverage of the Data
As of fall 2019, institutions actively submitting enrollment data to the Clearinghouse account for 97 percent of all enrollments at Title IV, degree-granting institutions in the
U.S. Because Clearinghouse participation grew over the period covered by this report, and because coverage of institutions (i.e., percentage of all institutions participatingin the Clearinghouse) is not 100 percent for any individual year, weights were applied by institutional sector and state to better approximate enrollments at all institutions
nationally. Using the IPEDS Title IV, degree-granting institutions as the base study population, weights for each institution type and state were calculated using the inverseof the rate of enrollment coverage for that sector or state in the relevant year. Given the unavailability of fall 2020 IPEDS enrollments at the time of publication, fall 2019
IPEDS enrollments were used as the basis for calculating the Clearinghouse coverage rates. For detailed statistics on enrollment coverage, as well as other aspects ofClearinghouse data, view “Working With Our Data.”

Differences from IPEDS Data
National Student Clearinghouse data are non-adjudicated, administrative data that come directly from college and university registrars. The data differ from IPEDS survey
data in several important ways:
1. Term definition: Most institutions use an October 15 census date when counting fall enrollments for IPEDS, but institutions have some flexibility in determining whether
a given term should be counted as a fall term. For Clearinghouse reporting, institutions provide the start- and end-dates for each enrollment, rather than formallydesignating fall or spring terms. Fall terms included in the Current Term Enrollment Estimates are those that:a) began between August 15 and October 31, inclusive orb) ended between September 15 and November 30, inclusive orc) began before August 15 AND ended after November 30.
2. Degree-granting status: When referencing IPEDS enrollment counts, it is important to distinguish counts limited to degree-granting institutions from those that also
include non-degree-granting institutions. NCES publishes both of these counts in IPEDS First-Look Reports. The Clearinghouse counts in this report are limited to Title IV,
degree-granting institutions.
3. Enrollment status changes: Institutions submit data to the Clearinghouse throughout a given term, capturing changes in enrollment status from one submission to
the next. The counts in this report include all students whose institution submitted at least one enrollment record showing the student enrolled as either full time, threequarters time, half time, or less than half time during the term. For IPEDS reporting, an institution generally counts a student according to the student’s enrollment status
as of the institution’s IPEDS census date.

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4. International students: As the Clearinghouse continues to enhance its data collections to better support the needs of the education community, enrollment records
for international students are starting to become more complete than in past years. Because this is a recent development, in order to ensure consistent year-to-yearcomparisons, international students have been excluded from this report. In recent years, IPEDS enrollments in the nonresident alien category have accounted for nearlyfive percent of all IPEDS enrollments.

Gender Imputation
Institutions reported student gender to the Clearinghouse for about one-half of all students included in this report. The genders for the remaining students were imputed
using a table of name-gender pairs that the Research Center developed using data publicly available from the Census Bureau and the Social Security Administration as
well as the institution-reported data. The imputation used only those pairs in which the name had at least two instances and was associated with a single-gender in atleast 95 percent of the instances. The imputation is accurate in 99.6 percent of the cases where gender was reported by institutions. A detailed document describing thisapproach resides on the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s “Working With Our Data” page.

First-Time Freshman Students
Starting with the fall of 2020, first-time students are defined as those who had no enrollment or degree and/or certificate award records at a Title IV U.S. institution prior
to fall 2020, unless the previous enrollment record was before a student turned 18 years old, or before the student graduated from high school (dual enrollment). For years
prior to 2020, counts of first-time freshman students are limited to students who had no college enrollment at age 18 or above prior to the beginning of the applicablefall term and had not completed a college credential prior to the beginning of the same fall term. The addition of high school graduation data helps to identify freshmen
more accurately than age alone but is typically only available for less than half of the most recent high school graduating classes and leads to relatively small changes in
the results.

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