Student numbers in higher education drop as economy improves
The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reports that enrollment in colleges, universities and tech schools continued to drop overall through 2015.
Enrollments decreased from fall of 2014 to fall of 2015 most among four-year for-profit institutions (-13.7 percent), then two-year public institutions (-2.4 percent), and four-year private nonprofit institutions (-0.3 percent).
Enrollments increased slightly among four-year public institutions (+0.4 percent). Taken as a whole, public-sector enrollment (2-year and 4-year combined) declined by 2.3 percent this fall.
In Georgia, the number of students dropped just .1 percent, though it had dropped 5.1 percent from 2013 to 2015.
The proportion of older students, age 24 and older, at four-year, for profit schools dropped most.
Some believe the improving economy is driving down the numbers.
About the Author
Christopher Quinn is a writer and editor who has worked for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 1999. He writes stories on Veterans Affairs, business including high-tech growth in metro Atlanta, Georgia's $72 billion farm economy, and he oversees assigning and editing news obituaries.
