College Admissions Continue to Fall in Ohio, Nationwide

In what is being called an “enrollment crisis” by the higher education community, spring enrollment data show a continuing downward trend in applications for U.S. colleges and universities. Community colleges have been hit harder than four-year institutions, studies show.

The Cincinnati Enquirer (subscription) reports on enrollment figures from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Ohio institutions lost close to 26,000 students last year and nearly 47,000 since 2020.

According to the Center, the lower enrollment figures “suggest that there’s a broader question about the value of college and particularly concerns about student debt and paying for college and potential labor market returns.” Federal data show that over the past two decades, college tuition has increased more than any other good or service besides hospital care — increasing 188%. 6/8/2022