The National Student Clearinghouse has reported a 2.5% increase in undergraduate students in the US for the spring semester of 2024, marking the second consecutive rise after years of decline amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This growth follows a 1.2% increase in undergraduate enrollment last fall.
According to the “Current Term Enrollment Estimates: Spring 2024” report, community colleges drove 55.7% of the increase, with enrollment surging 4.7% (200,000 students) from the spring semester of 2023. Graduate enrollment also saw a significant improvement, rising 3% this spring.
The report highlights that 44 states experienced enrollment growth, with first-year enrollment increasing faster than overall undergraduate enrollment, up 3.9% compared to last year’s spring enrollment. Community colleges and public Primarily Associate Degree Granting Baccalaureate Institutions (PABs) saw the strongest growth, with increases of 6.2% and 11.0%, respectively.
Notably, first-year female students saw a faster increase in enrollment, up 3.2% compared to a 2.2% rise for first-year male students. Undergraduate enrollment in public and private non-profit four-year colleges and universities, as well as PABs, also increased after years of decline, rising 1.2%, 1.9%, and 5.6%, respectively.
The US has also seen a recovery in international student enrollment, with over one million students enrolled in American universities and colleges in the 2022-23 academic year, a 12% increase from the previous year. This brings the number close to pre-pandemic levels. According to HolonIQ, a global impact intelligence platform, the number of international students in the US could reach between 1.3 and 2.8 million by 2034.
The increase in undergraduate enrollment is a positive sign for the US education sector, indicating a recovery from the pandemic-induced decline. The growth in community college enrollment and first-year students suggests a renewed interest in higher education among American students. As international student enrollment continues to rebound, US universities and colleges can expect a more diverse and global student body in the coming years.
