National College Enrollment Holds Steady, According To Preliminary Report

Preliminary data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center indicates that national college enrollment is holding steady for the fall 2026 semester. Overall undergraduate enrollment saw a modest increase of 0.6 percent, primarily driven by a 1.2 percent gain at community colleges. Conversely, graduate student enrollment experienced a 1.6 percent decline, largely due to a drop in master's programs.