Copyright The Boston Globe
US universities recorded a third year of enrollment growth this fall with the biggest gains coming from community colleges and certificate programs as students increasingly search for more affordable options. Enrollment at community colleges was up 4 percent, double the growth in overall headcount, while the number of undergraduate students broadly rose 2.4 percent, according to preliminary data from the National Student Clearinghouse released Tuesday. “The signals are clear that students are looking for practical, affordable, and career-relevant education,” said Matthew Holsapple, the National Student Clearinghouse’s senior director of research. He noted the figures highlight “evolving trends” in the higher-education landscape. Affordability has become top of mind for many US students and families as the cost of a four-year degree has climbed roughly 40 percent in 20 years. With the price at some schools close to $100,000 per year, cheaper options like community colleges or certificate programs have become more popular. Holsapple said certificates in fields like information technology, health care, advanced manufacturing, and other trades have become increasingly favored among older students and people changing careers who want to develop specific skills without committing to a multi-year degree program. Advertisement The preliminary data released by National Student Clearinghouse did not provide information on international student enrollment, which has been a target of President Trump’s immigration policies. Those figures will be included in the final enrollment numbers expected to be published in January. Though, there are signals that international enrollment may be weaker this fall. Data from the International Trade Administration showed that student visas dropped 19 percent in August, reaching a four-year low and indicating a tough landscape for higher education enrollment and coffers. Many of those students tend to pay full tuition, meaning they are often a revenue driver for some schools. Additionally, graduate enrollment was close to flat, rising just 0.1 percent over last year’s numbers. Master’s programs — which make up nearly two-thirds of graduate enrollment in the fall — is down 0.6 percent. Computer science studies saw a steep decrease in students, with graduate programs losing as much as 15 percent and undergraduate losing close to 6 percent. Advertisement Holsapple said many international students enroll in computer science programs. “It’s possible that when we have the final numbers we’ll see connections there,” he said. “All these data points are interconnected and we can see trends pop up in different ways.”
