Ten-year enrollment trends for adults: Non-profits up, 2-year and for-profits down

Over the last ten years, the enrollment by adult students (age 25 and up) is up within 4-year non-profit colleges and universities by +14%. The 4-year publics have seen a decline of -8%. The enrollment in public 2 year and 4 year for-profits has taken an enormous nose-dive, declining by -45% in the 2 year sector and -52% in the for-profit sector.

The enrollment of adults is now nearly equal between the 4-year non-profit sector and the public 2-year sector.

The enrollment by adults in the community college and for-profit sectors is now roughly one-half the size from 2011.

The sizable drop (roughly 11%) experienced by the community college sector from Fall 2019 to Fall 2020 is part of a long trajectory of declines but is exacerbated by the pandemic. The pandemic has fallen especially hard on low-wage workers in hospitality and office services. Low-wage workers have been prominent among the community college student body in the past.