Number of Higher Education Institutions Decreases by 2%

Washington (August 21, 2024) — According to the latest information from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the number of postsecondary institutions eligible for federal student financial assistance programs (Title IV institutions) in the United States and other jurisdictions saw a decrease of about 2 percent in the 2023–24 academic year compared to the previous year. The only sector that experienced an increase in institutions was the 4-year public sector, with 16 institutions transitioning from 2-year to 4-year status. The data also reveals insights into tuition and fees for the 2023–24 academic year and unduplicated enrollment head counts. Furthermore, new data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) shows that approximately 2.5 million high school students were enrolled in college courses for credit during the 2022–23 academic year.

NCES Commissioner Peggy G. Carr highlighted the significance of 2-year institutions as educational resources for non-traditional undergraduate students, stressing their role in providing advanced coursework to high school students.

Here are key highlights from the latest data released by NCES’s IPEDS program:

• The number of Title IV institutions decreased from 5,918 in 2022–23 to 5,819 in 2023–24.
• Average tuition and fees for full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates decreased across all sectors between the 2022–23 and 2023–24 academic years.
• Among the approximately 3.6 million students receiving degrees or certificates at 4-year Title IV degree-granting institutions in 2023–24, approximately 54 percent obtained a bachelor’s degree.

IPEDS, conducted annually by NCES, gathers information from various U.S. educational institutions eligible for Title IV federal student financial aid programs.

The latest data from the provisional fall collection for 2023–24 revealed insights from 5,819 Title IV institutions and 70 administrative offices, covering a diverse range of educational establishments.

To explore the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System data, visit the IPEDS Data Explorer.

Key Findings: 

Institutional Characteristics

• During the 2023–24 academic year, the number of Title IV institutions in the United States and other jurisdictions decreased by around 2 percent.
• 2,691 were classified as 4-year institutions;
• 1,496 were 2-year institutions; and
• 1,632 were less-than-2-year institutions.

Tuition and Fees

• Between the 2022–23 and 2023–24 academic years, average tuition and fees for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates decreased across all sectors.
• Public 4-year institutions reported a 7 percent decrease for in-state students and an 8 percent decrease for out-of-state students.
• Private nonprofit 4-year institutions reported a decrease of approximately 5 percent.
• Private for-profit institutions reported a decrease of approximately 8 percent.

Completions

• Of the 3.6 million students completing degrees or certificates at 4-year Title IV degree-granting institutions in 2023–24,
• Around 54 percent received a bachelor’s degree, varying by institutional control.
• Approximately 58 percent of students at public 4-year institutions received a bachelor’s degree.
• Approximately 49 percent of students at private nonprofit 4-year institutions received a bachelor’s degree.
• Approximately 40 percent of students at private for-profit 4-year institutions received a bachelor’s degree.

Unduplicated Enrollment

• The 12-month unduplicated head count enrollment of undergraduate students increased compared to the previous 12-month period.
• Around 4.1 million students were enrolled at public institutions.
• Around 935,000 students were enrolled at private nonprofit institutions.
• Around 755,000 students were enrolled at private for-profit institutions.
• About 2.5 million students in the unduplicated head count enrollment were high school students taking college courses for credit.
• Public 2-year institutions had the highest enrollment of high school students for credit.
• Approximately 57 percent of high school students enrolled for credit were women.
• White students constituted the majority of high school students enrolled for credit followed by Hispanic or Latino students.

Technical Note

NCES defines Title IV institutions as those authorized for federal student financial aid programs. The U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy, although not Title IV eligible, are included in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System due to federal funding and public accessibility.

The provisional data released by NCES today undergoes meticulous quality control and estimation processes to ensure accuracy. The final results are expected to be forecasted in summer 2025 after data revisions from institutions.

For further insights, refer to the IPEDS release memo.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), part of the U.S. Department of Education, serves as the statistical hub for education-related data collection and analysis, including international comparisons.

Connect with NCES on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to the NCES Newsflash for timely updates on educational data releases.

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) operates as the research arm of the U.S. Department of Education, dedicated to providing empirical evidence to support educational policies and practices.