COLLEGE ENROLLMENT UP 1 PERCENT THIS FALL,EDUCATION DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Sep 21, 2026

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College enrollment at the nation’s four-year colleges and universities held steady this fall despite predictions of student shortages, supported by rising participation from non-traditional and women students, according to the Education Department. Total attendance across colleges and universities increased 1 percent from 1985, while traditional college-age enrollment declined 2 percent. The report notes marketing efforts, improved academic programs, and projections that no downward trend materialized in 1986.

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College Enrollment Up 1 Percent This Fall, ED Reports

Enrollment Trends and Drivers

Two-Year Institutions Are Big Winners in Enrollment Race

No Downward Trend and Projections

Community Colleges Smiling (AACJC Survey Results)

Vol.14,No。244 Tuesday,December 23,1986 # COLLEGE ENROLLMENT UP 1 PERCENT THIS FALL,EDUCATION DEPARTMENT REPORTS Despite predictions of student shortages,enrollment at the nation's four-yearcolleges and universities held steady this fal1 with the help of non-tradition-al and women students,according to the Education Department. Led by an enrollment increase at two-year schools,overall attendance at thenation's colleges and universities rose 1 percent this fall from 1985,ED'sCenter for Education Statistics reported yesterday. Enrollment at four-year schools held steady,thanks in part to "intensive"marketing efforts aimed not only at attracting "traditional"students,but alsoolder and part-time students,particularly women,CES said. Over all,undergraduate and graduate enrollment increased 1 percent,while thesize of the traditional college-age student population--those 18 to 24 yearsold--declined 2 percent,CES reported.More than 7.1 million students attendedschool full-time this fall,and more than 5.2 mlllion were attending part time,CES said.(more) ★*★ # TWO-YEAR INSTITUTIONS ARE BIG WINNERS IN ENROLLMENT RACE In marked contrast to other segments of the higher education community,1986enrollment at the nation's_community,technical and junior colleges jumped atleast 2.5 percent over 1985,according to early results of a recent survey con-ducted by the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges(AACJC)。 Enrollment among AACJC's 1,222 community,technical and junior colleges to-taled more than 9.5 million this fall,AACJC estimated last week.More than 4.8 million students enrolled in credit cour ses,while another 4.7 mi1liontook noncredit,adult continuing education courses,according to associationestimates. Nearly all the two-year enrollment is situated in public institutions,AACJC said.Some 4.7 mi1l1on credit students are enrolled in public community col- leges,while just 145,500 are enrolled in private two-year institutions. The private,two-year enrollment has remained steady over the past 20 years,having reached a high point of 147,119 in 1966-67,according to AACJC surveyresults. When the final tally is made,community college officials say total enrollmentgains may be even greater.Daniel Savage,AACJC's vice president for(more on p.3) # COLLEGE ENROLLMENT UP 1 PERCENT THIS FALL,ED REPORTS(Cont.) The statistics are"awfully good news"for the higher education community,saidElaine E1-Khawas,vice president for policy analysis and research at the Ameri-can Council on Education."This is quite a testament that people want a col-lege education." CES found that nearly 12.4 million students were enrolled in higher educationinstitutions in the fall,151,000 more than at the same time in 1985.Enrol1-ment at public two-and four-year schools this fall rose 2 percent and 1 per-cent,respectively,while enrollment at private four-year schools was un-changed,CES reported. The center ear lier had reported that total enrollment would decline by 80,000students. No Downward Trend"Projections of this year's enrollment had forecast aslight decline because of the shrinking number of traditional college-age stu-dents,"CES said in the report."But no downward trend in enrollments materi-alized in 1986." A number of the more than 600 schools surveyed by CES attributed the enrollmentincrease to improved academic progr ams,some developed especially for women.Women's enrollment rose 2 percent,while the enrollment of men remained un-changed,CES found. "Women students are more committed to completing college than they were adecade ago,"E1-Khawas said yesterday."Women today are more career-oriented." The nearly steady enrollment for men and women.coming at a time when the num-ber of high school graduates is decreasing,may mean students are deciding tostay in school to secure good jobs,E1-Khawas said. 1984 A One-Time DropDespite fears that a decline in the number of highBchool students would mean lower col

FAQs

What was the overall change in college and university enrollment this fall compared with 1985?

Overall attendance at the nation’s colleges and universities rose 1 percent from 1985 this fall.

How did enrollment at four-year schools compare with 1985?

Enrollment at four-year schools held steady, helped in part by “intensive” marketing efforts aimed at both traditional and older or part-time students, especially women.

Why did the Education Department report say the expected decline did not occur in 1986?

Projections had forecast a slight decline due to fewer traditional college-age students, but the report said no downward trend in enrollments materialized in 1986.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Hazel