The National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) is the best national-level source of data on students’ postsecondary outcomes, and a new early look report at fall 2020 enrollment shows
2.5% declines in undergraduate enrollment that are likely coronavirus-induced. The report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC), which examines data received through Sept. 10 representing 22% of colleges, is the first in
an anticipated series across the next two academic years.
Enrollment losses are led by community colleges, which experienced an eye-popping 7.5% decline through Sept. 10. Four-year, private, nonprofit institutions saw the next largest decrease at 3.8%.
By race and ethnicity, all undergraduate student groups saw declines with American Indian/Alaska Native (-7.7%), White and Black (-6.3%) seeing the steepest decreases. “Non-resident Alien” students had year-over-year decreases of 11.2%.
The NSCRC’s interactive charts also break the data out by student age, institutional setting, and state.
A thin silver lining here finds postsecondary enrollment down just 1.8% overall compared to last year because a 3.9% increase in graduate students is buoying undergraduate declines.
Unfortunately, these results are unsurprising giving leading indicators over the summer. Both summer enrollment, especially at community
colleges, and FAFSA completions, among both class of 2020 high school seniors and renewals from currently enrolled students, were down year-over-year.
As difficult as these data are to look at, given what they represent about so many students’ changed postsecondary plans, they are critical for sounding the alarm about the size and shape of the problem and calling attention to it from policymakers and
the public.
NCAN is grateful to the NSCRC for their work in this area, and will continue to monitor and report on these reports.
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