Community college enrollments continue to decline

College enrollment declines appear to be worsening, particularly at many community colleges, according to a new report.

Undergraduate enrollment declined by more than 662,000 students or 4.7% from spring 2021. The total number of undergraduates who have dropped out during the pandemic is 1.4 million, an increase of 9.4%, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

“College enrollment declines appear to be worsening,” said Doug Shapiro, executive director of National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. “Although there may be some signs of a nascent recovery, particularly in a slight increase of first-year students, the numbers are small, and it remains to be seen whether they will translate into a larger freshman recovery in the coming fall.”

The public sector, community colleges and four-year institutions combined experienced the steepest drop: more than 604,000 students, a 5% decline.

Community colleges continued to suffer the most, with 351,000 fewer students, or a drop of 7.8%.

“We do know that’s related at least in part to the pandemic,” said Sarah Yunits, deputy executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges. “A large percentage of our students are parents, who may have had trouble finding child care. Many of our students work.”

There also were more than 462,000 or 4.6% fewer female students this spring. Women declined the most at community colleges, down 9.2% or 251,000 fewer women versus 100,000 or 5.6% fewer men. In all sectors, men declined by more than 220,000 students.

Traditional college-age students (18-24) continued to decline by 3.2% or 316,000 students since spring 2021, which is a slower pace from the 5% decline the previous year. Since the start of the pandemic, community colleges have lost nearly 20% of students in the traditional college-age group and 16% of adult students.

In an analysis of first-time, first-year students by race and ethnicity, Asian and Latinx freshman enrollment grew nationally over spring 2021, by 15% and 4% respectively. In contrast, Black freshman enrollment declined by 6.5% or 2,600 students.

There were some bright spots to report: First-time, first-year enrollment increased this spring by 4.2% or 13,700 students.

Nearly 340,000 freshmen enrolled for the first time this spring, with nearly six out of 10 starting at a community college. Community college freshmen increased by 6,000 students or 3.1%, after experiencing declines the previous spring of 23,000 students or a 10.7% loss.

Public four-year colleges reported the largest freshmen increase of 7,300 students, a 10.8% increase, this spring.