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U.S. College Enrollment Rises for Third Year as Community Colleges, Short-Term Credentials Lead

The figures come from a new preliminary Clearinghouse series that excludes dual-enrollment, based on reports from about half of colleges.

Overview

  • Total postsecondary enrollment rose about 2.0% this fall, driven by a 2.4% increase in undergraduates, according to preliminary National Student Clearinghouse data.
  • Public two-year colleges posted a 4.0% gain, while undergraduate certificates grew 6.6%, associate degrees 3.1%, and bachelor’s programs 1.2%.
  • Graduate enrollment was essentially flat at 0.1%, with master’s programs down 0.6% and doctoral programs up 1.1%.
  • Computer and information sciences saw steep declines, from a 5.8% drop at two-year colleges to a 15% decrease in graduate programs.
  • The snapshot covers roughly 8.5 million students from 49.4% of reporting institutions, with a final report due in mid-January 2026 that will add international-student and fuller demographic data.