Fewer 18-Year-Olds Enrolled in College This Fall
Sara Weissman
December 3, 2024
New data shows enrollment among 18-year-old freshmen dropped this year. Some higher ed experts say last year’s botched FAFSA rollout is at least partly to blame.
Enrollment of 18-year-old freshmen dropped 5 percent this fall compared to last, a reversal of gains made in 2023, according to a new data analysis released by the National College Attainment Network Monday.
The special analysis, conducted by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, was commissioned by NCAN in order to take an early look at first-year enrollment trends after the U.S. Department of Education’s delayed rollout of last year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The new form, intended to simplify the financial aid process, was riddled with glitches that made it hard for many to complete and waylaid students’ financial aid packages.
The analysis uses data from the end of October, covering about 80 percent of higher ed institutions and about 82.3 percent of students enrolled across the country. This year’s steep drop in 18-year-old freshman enrollment contrasts sharply with the 3 percent enrollment bump the group experienced from 2022 to 2023. Enrollment fell for this demographic in 46 states this fall, with an average drop of 7.1 percent.
