Summary

College enrollment among 18-year-old freshmen fell 5% this fall, with declines most severe at public and private non-profit four-year colleges.

Experts attribute the drop to factors including declining birth rates, high tuition costs, FAFSA delays, and uncertainty over student loan relief after Supreme Court rulings against forgiveness plans.

Economic pressures, such as the need to work, also deter students.

Despite declining enrollment, applications have risen, particularly among low- and middle-income students, underscoring interest in higher education. Experts urge addressing affordability and accessibility to reverse this trend.

  • modality@lemmy.myserv.one
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    9 days ago

    Eh. I don’t really want my school knowing everything about me. I shouldn’t need to provide them my data and they shouldn’t ask for it.

    Yes there should be accountability etc. but the deal was that I’d pay them for an education and that’s what I got. If Big Alma Mater wants to know whether I’m “successful” then too bad, that’s not part of the deal.

    • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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      9 days ago

      Sorry we just passed the law. You can expect an Alma Mater SWAT team to show up and torture you for the information.

      • modality@lemmy.myserv.one
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        9 days ago

        Jokes on the SWAT team. Every time I move my alumni association immediately finds me and sends me lovely brochures asking for money. They already have my data and probably yours.

        • meyotch@slrpnk.net
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          9 days ago

          They have time to google. Not magic, just time and mandate to use the resources at hand.