Data Dive: Have Four-Year Universities Turned the Corner?

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s Spring Current Term Enrollment Estimates Report Shows a Resurgence in Students Pursing Traditional Academic Pathways

After years of uncertainty, higher education enrollment may finally be stabilizing. According to the latest Current Term Enrollment Estimates (CTEE) report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, enrollment at four-year institutions has not only recovered from the pandemic-era declines but has now reached or even surpassed spring 2020 levels. This marks a significant milestone for colleges and universities following years of post-pandemic challenges. 

The CTEE report provides a detailed breakdown of enrollment across higher education sectors. Among four-year institutions, it categorizes data by public, private nonprofit, and private for-profit colleges, allowing academic leaders to benchmark their performance within their respective sectors. 

Enrollment at Public Four-Year Institutions

Undergraduate enrollment at public four-year institutions rose by 2.7% in spring 2025, marking a year-over-year increase of approximately 154,000 students. This brings total postsecondary enrollment in the sector to over 7.4 million, slightly surpassing the 7.3 million recorded in spring 2020. The growth signals a continued rebound in higher education participation following years of enrollment challenges. 

Enrollment at Private Nonprofit Four-Year Institutions

Undergraduate enrollment at private nonprofit four-year institutions rose by 1.9% in spring 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of approximately 49,000 students. This growth brings total postsecondary enrollment in the sector to around 4 million students— now slightly above spring 2020 levels.  

Enrollment at Private For-Profit Four-Year Institutions

Private for-profit four-year institutions also experienced higher enrollment in spring 2025 compared to spring 2020. However, unlike public and private nonprofit institutions, they did not face the same level of pandemic-related declines. Undergraduate enrollment at these institutions rose by 3.3% from spring 2024 to spring 2025, bringing their number of undergraduates to nearly 650,000. Since 2020, undergraduate enrollment in this sector has steadily increased, including a notable 8.4% jump in spring 2022.  

“This spring marked a pivotal milestone for higher education. For the first time since the onset of the pandemic, public and private nonprofit four-year institutions have fully rebounded to pre-2020 enrollment levels,” said Matthew Holsapple, Senior Director of Research at the National Student Clearinghouse. He added, “It’s a strong signal that students are returning to traditional pathways and that the sector’s recovery is gaining real traction.” 

View higher education enrollment by institutional sector on tab 1 on the CTEE report interactive dashboard. 

Enrollment by Top Major Fields

The CTEE report also provides a comprehensive breakdown of undergraduate enrollment across the top 20 major field families, with the latest edition including data dating back to 2020. This data equips administrators with valuable insights into shifting academic interests, highlighting which fields are gaining momentum and which are experiencing a decline in student demand. 

The report reveals that the Computer and Information Sciences program in undergraduate four-year institutions experienced the most significant growth among the top major fields over the past five years, with enrollment rising by more than 35%. However, this momentum seems to be tapering off, with the field experiencing only a modest 0.2% increase from spring 2024 to spring 2025, significantly lower than the more robust growth seen in previous years. In contrast, English Language and Literature faced the steepest decline during the same period, with enrollment shrinking by over 19%.  

“These trends reflect broader shifts in student interests and labor market demands, highlighting the appeal of technology-related fields for students across different pathways,” Holsapple observed. 

View higher education enrollment among the top 20 major fields on tab 5 on the CTEE report interactive dashboard.  

Additional Higher Education Enrollment Insights for Four-Year Institutions

Undergraduate Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity 

The CTEE report also offers valuable insights into spring undergraduate enrollment trends by race and ethnicity across different institutional sectors. For instance, it shows that white student enrollment at public four-year institutions has declined by more than 11% since spring 2020. In contrast, enrollment among minority groups—including African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, and multiracial students—has increased over the same period. These gains have helped offset the decline in white student enrollment. 

View higher education enrollment by race and ethnicity on tab 2 on the CTEE report interactive dashboard. 

Other Undergraduate Enrollment Datasets 

In addition to these findings, the CTEE report’s interactive dashboard also presents enrollment data by age, gender, institutional locale—urban, suburban, town, and rural—as well as by state and region. This expanded view offers users a more comprehensive understanding of geographic, demographic, and community-based enrollment trends nationwide. 

Holsapple concluded, “The latest CTEE report offers a cautiously optimistic outlook for four-year institutions, signaling that higher education may indeed be turning a corner. With enrollment levels at public and private nonprofit colleges rebounding to—and in some cases exceeding—pre-pandemic figures, and continued growth in the for-profit sector, the data suggests a renewed confidence in traditional academic pathways.” 

Unlocking Deeper Academic Insights from the Data

The CTEE report, along with other publications from the Research Center, is made possible by the Clearinghouse’s robust database of academic enrollment records—provided by nearly 3,600 higher education institutions across the United States. The Clearinghouse’s data covers 97% of currently enrolled postsecondary students. 

The Research Center serves as the Clearinghouse’s research arm. It collaborates with colleges, universities, states, school districts, high schools, and educational organizations to provide insights into student educational journeys. By providing accurate, longitudinal data on student outcomes, the Research Center facilitates data-driven decision-making in education policy, ultimately contributing to enhanced student success. 

The Clearinghouse also offers Custom Research services, enabling academic leaders and researchers to gain reliable insights into learner outcomes and educational pathways by leveraging its vast datasets and analytical expertise. This work is part of a broader effort to advance student success across the educational landscape. Through its diverse portfolio of research projects, the Clearinghouse analyzes student performance against national benchmarks, identifies trends in enrollment, persistence, and mobility, and examines how these patterns influence college completion, student success programs, and policy decisions. 

Learn more about the Clearinghouse’s Custom Research services. 

“This spring marked a pivotal milestone for higher education. For the first time since the onset of the pandemic, public and private nonprofit four-year institutions have fully rebounded to pre-2020 enrollment levels. It’s a strong signal that students are returning to traditional pathways and that the sector’s recovery is gaining real traction.”

Matthew Holsapple
Senior Director of Research at the National Student Clearinghouse