In 2021, there were approximately 7.46 million students enrolled in public 4-year postsecondary institutions across the United States. This figure is projected to increase to 8.06 million enrolled students by 2031.
Undergraduate enrollment numbers in 4-year postsecondary degree-granting institutions in the United States 1970 to 2031, by institution type
(in 1,000s)
Characteristic
Public
Private nonprofit
Private for-profit
1970
3,425.27
1,616.83
7.58
1975
3,994.06
1,701.85
17.82
1980
4,114.36
1,812.61
22.99
1985
4,207.39
1,820.21
38
1990
4,713.12
1,954.25
51.65
1995
4,626.23
2,029.54
83.85
2000
4,842.26
2,154.34
210.69
2005
5,513.73
2,374.85
587.56
2006
5,622.75
2,409.09
634.45
2007
5,811.92
2,436.97
735.72
2008
5,950.02
2,500.43
923.2
2009
6,284.81
2,560.4
1,096.39
2010
6,484.94
2,620.31
1,293.58
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NCES. (December 31, 2022). Undergraduate enrollment numbers in 4-year postsecondary degree-granting institutions in the United States 1970 to 2031, by institution type (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved April 26, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/236484/enrollment-in-us-4-year-postsecondary-institutions-by-institution-type/
NCES. "Undergraduate enrollment numbers in 4-year postsecondary degree-granting institutions in the United States 1970 to 2031, by institution type (in 1,000s)." Chart. December 31, 2022. Statista. Accessed April 26, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/236484/enrollment-in-us-4-year-postsecondary-institutions-by-institution-type/
NCES. (2022). Undergraduate enrollment numbers in 4-year postsecondary degree-granting institutions in the United States 1970 to 2031, by institution type (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: April 26, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/236484/enrollment-in-us-4-year-postsecondary-institutions-by-institution-type/
NCES. "Undergraduate Enrollment Numbers in 4-year Postsecondary Degree-granting Institutions in The United States 1970 to 2031, by Institution Type (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 31 Dec 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/236484/enrollment-in-us-4-year-postsecondary-institutions-by-institution-type/
NCES, Undergraduate enrollment numbers in 4-year postsecondary degree-granting institutions in the United States 1970 to 2031, by institution type (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/236484/enrollment-in-us-4-year-postsecondary-institutions-by-institution-type/ (last visited April 26, 2025)
Undergraduate enrollment numbers in 4-year postsecondary degree-granting institutions in the United States 1970 to 2031, by institution type (in 1,000s) [Graph], NCES, December 31, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/236484/enrollment-in-us-4-year-postsecondary-institutions-by-institution-type/
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