Citing “havoc” wrecked on college enrollment levels due to the Covid 19 pandemic, new research released by NCES confirms: 1. College and university enrollment nationwide fell by more than 3 percent, across all segments of post-secondary education. 2. Higher education institutions also had 151,627 fewer employees in fall 2020. 3. However, two-year for-profit colleges gained 22,069 more students, an 11 percent increase compared to the previous year. 4. For-profit institutions enrolled high percentages of Black and Latinx students -- 24.7 percent and 18 percent respectively. 5. Retention rates continue to drop at all institutions, particularly among part-time students. 6. Enrollment exclusively in on-line instruction rose to 44% in 2020, compared to just 17% the prior year. At least one NCES data analyst said the on-line enrollment trend was accelerated by the pandemic, but that much of the momentum pre-dates March 2020.

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https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/09/15/new-federal-data-confirm-enrollment-declines