CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Freshman enrollment is dropping at universities nationwide for the first time since 2020.
It’s the largest decline since 2020 when COVID-19 and remote learning kept students home. According to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, freshman enrollment dropped more than 5% last year. It comes roughly a year after massive issues with FAFSA applications.
Schools that serve students from lower-income families saw the largest drops in enrollment. In fact, schools with the largest number of Pell Grant recipients saw enrollment dip by more than 10% from the previous year, researchers found.
Financial aid isn't the only problem keeping students out of college. Researchers say the end of race-conscious admissions, anxiety over student debt and a strong labor market have all played a role in failing enrollment numbers.
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