Computer science enrollment is declining across major institutional sectors despite continued growth in overall undergraduate enrollment, according to National Student Clearinghouse data. The trend began in fall 2025 and continued into spring 2026, with nearly every major computer science specialization seeing decreases. Persistence rates also lag among top majors, suggesting shifting student demand and program choices.
Health Professions’ enrollment grew for the third consecutive year in spring 2026, topping two million undergraduate students nationwide, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s Final Spring Enrollment Trends. Gains were seen across four-year, two-year, and PAB institutions, with nursing remaining the largest area of study.
Spring 2026 postsecondary enrollment rose 1.0% to 18.6 million students, according to the Final Spring Enrollment Trends report. The increase was driven by a 1.3% increase in undergraduate enrollment at public institutions, especially community colleges and certificate programs. Graduate enrollment remained flat with a slight decline in master’s programs and a drop in international graduate students. Computer science enrollment continued to fall, while health professions and engineering posted strong gains, signaling a continued shift toward workforce-aligned fields and practical educational pathways.
Enrollment in undergraduate programs is up 3% in early reporting this fall compared to similar early data from fall 2023, indicating a second straight year of undergraduate enrollment growth, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s latest report.
According to the report, Undergraduate Degree Earners, released Thursday, the total number of people earning any undergraduate credential (bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and certificates) fell by 2.8 percent, or almost 100,000. This is the second consecutive year of declines after many years of gradual increases.