College Enrollment Declines for Third Straight Year

(From The Wall Street Journal) About 1.5 million fewer students are enrolled than before the pandemic, according to preliminary data released by National Student Clearinghouse. The report found that overall enrollment fell by 1.1%, closer to pre-pandemic levels than the more drastic declines that shocked leaders over the past two years. University enrollment was sinking for a decade before the pandemic and this year’s rate marks a return to that earlier, slower pace of decline. Factors contributing to enrollment’s long-term slide include concerns about student debt and the rise of alternative credentials.

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