U.S. college enrollment increased 1% in Fall 2025 compared to the previous year, reflecting a nationwide gain of 187,000 students, according to the latest data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
The largest gains in total enrollment were in the West (+4.6%) and South (+4.3%). The Midwest had a 3.2% total increase, and the Northeast had a smaller 2.4% gain.
The 1.2% overall increase was primarily driven by higher enrollments at community colleges (+3%) and public 4-year colleges and universities (+1.4%). Enrollment for short-term credentials was also up with a 1.9% increase for undergraduate certificate programs.
By contrast, nationwide enrollment at four-year private institutions decreased 1.6% at private four-year nonprofits and 2% at four-year for-profit institutions. Graduate enrollment dipped 0.3% in the U.S. primarily because of a 5.9% drop in international students in these programs, the report said.
In New Jersey, total enrollment at undergraduate and graduate levels was 355,466 in Fall 2025. This represented a 3.1% decline from the previous year and was driven primarily by a 15.4% decline in enrollment at four-year private nonprofit institutions.
New Jersey community college enrollment was down 1.9% while four-year public colleges had a 0.7% increase in students, the report said.
