Recently, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center released its postsecondary enrollment estimates for the spring 2022 semester. While overall enrollment dropped compared to the spring prior, with community colleges representing more than half of enrollment declines, freshman and CTE program enrollment at two-year institutions increased significantly.
This spring, community college enrollment declined by 7.8% or 351,000 students, from the prior spring. Enrollment dropped the most among adults (-10.8%), full-time students (-10.7%) and women (-9.2%). Additionally, enrollment in community college certificate programs decreased by 3.7% this spring, which is notable compared to certificate programs’ 4.3% increase during the fall 2021 semester.
On a more positive note, freshman enrollees at community colleges increased by 3.1% this spring, demonstrating great improvement from the spring prior. In fact, nearly 60% of spring freshman began at a community college.
Most interesting to CTE advocates, enrollment in CTE programs at two-year institutions also significantly increased this spring. Agriculture programs experienced the largest enrollment growth, with a 47.8% increase. Enrollment in skilled trades programs also grew, including transportation and materials moving (28.9%); precision production (16.7%); and mechanic and repair technologies (11.5%). Construction programs grew 19.3%, returning to pre-pandemic enrollment levels.
Additionally, other CTE programs that saw significant enrollment increases include personal and culinary services (12.7%); computer and information sciences and support services (8.5%); and visual and performing arts (8.4%).
Possible reasons for the increases in CTE program enrollment include pent-up student demand from the pandemic, when some learners opted out of CTE programs that had moved online, as well as labor market needs in these industries and occupations.
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