Why College Freshman Enrollment Declined and What it Could Mean for Students

Colleges and universities across the U.S. saw major enrollment declines among first-year, 18-year-old freshmen in fall 2024, according to recent data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Overall freshman enrollment declined by 5%, while the biggest drop among school types – more than 6% – was at public and private nonprofit four-year institutions. Private colleges that serve a high number of Pell Grant recipients – students who demonstrate greater financial need – saw an average decline of more than 10%, per Clearinghouse data.