#enrollment-trends

#enrollment-trends

Between concerns about international student enrollment and continued skepticism about the value of higher education, some institutions are struggling to fill seats. Unexpected melt has prompted some wealthy, highly selective institutions to pull students off the wait list last minute; for smaller institutions, enrollment declines are leading to layoffs and program cuts. But for a lucky share, fall 2025 has brought record freshman classes and soaring enrollment projections.

Grass Valley Elementary School experienced a 40% drop in enrollment from 2019 to 2024 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and fears surrounding potential school closure.

"State appropriations per student at community colleges dropped by 3 percent and rose 1.8 percent at four-year institutions, indicating a disparity in funding allocation."

St. Andrews University announced its closure due to prohibitive financial challenges, despite growing enrollment, underscoring the difficulty of maintaining financial sustainability in higher education.