The global COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have had a massive impact on all spheres of our lives, including education. According to the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), the number of enrolled students fell by 11% between 2019 and 2020 and by an additional 7% between 2020 and 2021 academic years. This shift has affected many students. And it had the biggest impact on students from lower-income and minority groups who showed a higher sensitivity to pandemic disruptions.
The situation in the higher education sector has been gradually recovering over the years following the pandemic. Finally, in 2025, we’ve seen college enrollment increasing at a rapid pace. Let’s recap some of the major statistics and trends.
2025 Student Enrollment Increase in Numbers
The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center publishes a Preliminary Fall Enrollment Trends report every November to recap the major enrollment trends of the year. A 2025 report revealed a massive student enrollment increase compared to levels recorded during the pandemic.
Let’s look at the key numbers:
- Based on the data provided by 49.4% of American postsecondary institutions, there were 8.5 million enrollments reported in the fall of 2025.
- There is a 2.0% total enrollment growth and a 2.4% increase in undergraduate enrollment from the fall of 2024.
- The highest enrollment growth rate is seen in community colleges (4.0%). However, the number of students enrolling in public and private nonprofit institutions has also grown.
- Among specific program enrollments, the highest growth has been shown in doctoral programs (1.1%). Enrollment in Master’s programs has slightly declined (-0.6%) and remained about the same level in graduate programs (+0.1%).
- Enrollment in undergraduate certificate programs increased by 6.6%. This is the biggest increase compared to all undergraduate credential programs.
Higher Education Enrollment Trends: 2023 to 2025
In its 2025 report, the NSC Research Center also provides insights into enrollment changes between the fall of 2023 and the fall of 2025. The total increase rate in undergraduate enrollment is 5.7%. The highest increase has been reported by community colleges, with a whopping 9.6% rise. Public four-year colleges are the second fastest-growing type of institution, with a total 4.1% increase between 2023 and 2025.
Other sectors that have shown a significant increase include:
- Associate degree-granting baccalaureate institutions (PABs) - A 4.1% increase compared to fall 2024, and a total 10.2% of growth since fall 2023.
- Public two-year colleges - A 3.9% increase in fall 2025, and a total 9.4% of growth over the last two years.
Trends in Higher Education Enrollment by Demographics
The NSC Research Center has analyzed enrollment changes in different demographic groups of students in fall 2025, 2024, and 2023-2025. A tangible decline over the past two years is only reported among White students, whereas enrollment among other demographic groups seems to be growing steadily.
These numbers indicate a positive enrollment tendency, particularly among students from lower-income and minority groups who have been affected the most during the pandemic.
Enrollment Trends in Higher Education by Specialization
The NSC Research Center report analyzes the key trends in enrollment by different specializations for undergraduate 2-year, undergraduate 4-year, and graduate program levels. The fastest-growing majors are as follows:
- Undergraduate 2-year institutions: Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians (10.4%); Health Professionals and Related Clinical Sciences (10.1%); Engineering Technologies/Technicians (8.3%).
- Undergraduate 4-year institutions: Engineering (7.5%); Health (6.2%).
- Graduate institutions: Public Administration and Social Service Professionals (6.9%); Psychology (4%).
The biggest enrollment decrease has been shown in the Computer and Information Science sector. There is a 5.8% drop in this specialization area in undergraduate 2-year institutions, a 7.7% drop in undergraduate 4-year institutions, and a major 15% drop in graduate institutions.
Why Is Community College Enrollment Increasing?
A 2025 report shows the biggest growth in enrollment in community colleges. A 2024 survey by the Gallup Panel and Lumina Foundation has revealed a growing (48%) confidence in community colleges among Americans, which possibly gave a boost to enrollment in such institutions. And there are quite a few reasons for that:
- 47% of Americans believe that community colleges offer more affordable education compared to 4-year ones.
- 37% of respondents emphasize that community college education has a higher value for money.
- 21% of people believe that 2-year programs are better for teaching relevant job- and life-related skills.
Apart from the benefits revealed in the survey, community colleges now offer a wealth of additional advantages, such as:
- A faster time to the labor market.
- Coverage for in-demand majors like trades, healthcare, technology, etc.
- Minimized student debt due to lower tuition and fees.
- A greater program flexibility that makes education accessible to students and adults with non-traditional schedules.
All these benefits explain the rapid growth of community college enrollment, which is projected to continue in the following years.
The Bottom Line
It’s no secret that the pandemic has paralyzed the educational sector for years ahead. Starting from the fall of 2019, enrollment rates have been drastically falling and have needed sufficient time to recover. Fortunately, in 2025, we’ve finally seen increasing college enrollment across different institutions, programs, specializations, and student groups.
The biggest enrollment rate growth has been noticed in community colleges, with a whopping 4.0% rise compared to the fall of 2024. According to surveys, more and more students are choosing community colleges for affordability and quality. And this trend is predicted to stay.