School Enrollment in the United States: 2021

American Community Survey Reports

By Jacob Fabina, Erik L. Hernandez, and Kevin McElrath

ACS-55

June 2023

INTRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS
According to the American Community Survey • In 2021, school enrollment included 4.1 million
(ACS), about one-quarter (24.8 percent) of the preschool students, 4.0 million kindergartners,
U.S. population over the age of 3 was enrolled in 32.9 million students in first through eighth
school in 2021. This report provides a comprehensive grades, 17.3 million high schoolers, 16.6 million
picture of the state of school enrollment using undergraduate students, and 4.6 million graduate
recently published data from the ACS.1 It outlines students.
modern enrollment trends while also offering • In 2021, approximately 19.8 percent of graduate
comparisons to past levels of enrollment. More students and 11.1 percent of undergraduate
specifically, this report covers the time of the COVID- students were foreign-born.
19 pandemic that was characterized by school
• Just over one-half (51.8 percent) of all
closures, expanded remote learning, and decisions
undergraduate students were White,
to delay school enrollment from both schools and
13.9 percent were Black, 7.6 percent were
families. We pay specific attention to two levels of
Asian, and 20.6 percent were Hispanic.
schooling that saw notable shifts from 2019 to 2021—
preschool enrollment and college enrollment—and • Similarly, 48.1 percent of all kindergarten
we examine whether certain demographic groups or through 12th (K–12) grade students were White,
geographic areas were more impacted than others. 12.8 percent were Black, 4.9 percent were Asian,
and 25.7 percent were Hispanic.
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way society
• High school dropout rates—defined as the
operates in many ways, from shifts in the way people
percentage of people (aged 18 to 24) who are not
work to increased focus on public health. This report
enrolled in school and do not have a high school
shows that the way people approach schooling may
degree—declined from 12.5 percent of all 18- to
also have shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
24-year-olds in 2005 to 5.8 percent in 2021.
As more data become available, we can investigate
• Since 2019, the number of students enrolled in
whether the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a long-
preschool has declined, and the roughly 4.1 million
term shift in school enrollment trends or was simply
preschool students in 2021 marked the lowest
an external shock whose effects will dissipate as the
recorded estimate since the ACS began data
pandemic wanes.
collection in 2005.
• College enrollment continued to decline, with
1
The U.S. Census Bureau reviewed this data product for
unauthorized disclosure of confidential information and approved 21.1 million students enrolled in 2021, compared
the disclosure avoidance practices applied to this release. to 21.7 million in 2019 and 23.7 million in 2011.
CBDRB-FY23-POP001-0108.
 However, the 2019 to 2021 examine demographic characteris- 857,000 Hispanic (20.9 percent). 2
decline occurred solely in the tics of people enrolled in school by The vast majority (98.4 percent)
public undergraduate sector, in level and type of school. of preschool students were native-
contrast with the 2011 to 2019 born. Household income for
decline that occurred for both Preschool children enrolled in school varied
public and private colleges. Racially and ethnically, about by level of enrollment (Table 2).
one-half (2.2 million) of preschool Median annual income for house-
CURRENT ENROLLMENT
students were non-Hispanic White holds of preschool students was
STATISTICS FROM THE ACS
alone, with 483,000 non-Hispanic $99,530—higher than that for stu-
In 2021, 79.5 million people in the Black (11.8 percent), 184,000 non- dents in kindergarten through high
United States were enrolled in Hispanic Asian (4.5 percent), and
school (Table 1). In this section, we
2
In this report, these groups are
referred to as White, Black, and Asian.

Table 1.
School Enrollment by Level of Enrollment and Selected Characteristics: 2021
(Population aged 3 and older enrolled in school. Numbers in thousands)

Total Kindergarten through 12th grade College

Characteristics enrolled Pre- Kinder- Grades Grades High Under- Graduate
in school school Total garten 1 to 4 5 to 8 school Total graduate school
Total. . . . . . . . . . 79,454 4,096 54,161 4,012 15,768 17,087 17,294 21,197 16,602 4,595
Sex
Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39,232 2,128 27,832 2,066 8,118 8,719 8,929 9,272 7,409 1,863
Female. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40,222 1,968 26,329 1,946 7,650 8,368 8,365 11,925 9,193 2,732
Race and Hispanic
Origin
Non-Hispanic, White
alone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39,330 2,172 26,050 1,883 7,551 8,200 8,414 11,110 8,602 2,509
Non-Hispanic, Black
alone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,340 483 6,948 508 1,984 2,221 2,234 2,904 2,306 598
Non-Hispanic, Asian
alone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,695 184 2,676 211 792 829 844 1,836 1,255 581
Non-Hispanic, other . . 6,232 400 4,554 374 1,419 1,423 1,339 1,277 1,015 262
Hispanic (any race). . . 18,860 857 13,930 1,036 4,023 4,413 4,462 4,069 3,424 645
Nativity
Native-born. . . . . . . . . . 74,250 4,029 51,770 3,908 15,210 16,360 16,300 18,450 14,760 3,686
Foreign-born . . . . . . . . 5,208 67 2,389 104 560 731 995 2,751 1,842 909
Type of School
Public. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65,058 2,350 47,209 3,372 13,562 14,925 15,351 15,499 12,746 2,753
Private. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,395 1,745 6,952 640 2,206 2,163 1,943 5,698 3,856 1,842

Region
Northeast . . . . . . . . . . . 13,259 730 8,652 631 2,508 2,724 2,789 3,877 2,954 923
Midwest. . . . . . . . . . . . . 16,408 930 11,321 841 3,315 3,579 3,586 4,157 3,260 897
South. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,536 1,562 21,190 1,595 6,162 6,724 6,709 7,784 6,090 1,694
West. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,251 874 12,998 945 3,783 4,061 4,209 5,379 4,299 1,080
Language Spoken at
Home
Total population aged
5 and above. . . . . . . . 76,300 1,135 53,970 3,818 15,770 17,090 17,290 21,200 16,600 4,595
Speaks English. . . . . . . 59,200 945 42,370 3,043 12,500 13,450 13,370 15,890 12,530 3,357
Speaks a non-English
language. . . . . . . . . . . 17,100 190 11,600 776 3,267 3,638 3,921 5,309 4,071 1,238
Poverty Status
Total poverty status
population. . . . . . . . . . 75,791 4,036 53,360 3,948 15,508 16,794 17,109 18,395 13,862 4,533
In poverty . . . . . . . . . . . 12,655 556 8,691 710 2,716 2,708 2,557 3,408 2,732 675
Not in poverty . . . . . . . 63,136 3,480 44,669 3,239 12,792 14,086 14,553 14,987 11,129 3,857

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2021 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates. For more information, refer to <www.census.gov/acs>.

2 U.S. Census Bureau

school, which ranged from $83,650 master’s degrees, Ph.D.s, law In 2021 there were 9.2 million
to $91,640. Higher median house- degrees, and medical degrees. female undergraduate and 2.7
hold income for preschool stu- million female graduate stu-
In 2021, approximately one-half
dents compared to K–12 students dents, who constituted 55.4 and
(51.8 percent) of the 16.6 million
may be related to the high rates 59.5 percent of the undergradu-
undergraduate college students
of private school enrollment in ate and graduate student body,
and 54.6 percent of the 4.6 million
preschool discussed later in this respectively.
graduate students were White
report.
(Table 1). Black students made Public and Private School
Kindergarten Through 12th Grade up 2.3 million, or 13.9 percent of
Table 1 shows that in 2021, 81.9
all undergraduates, and 598,000
In 2021, 54.2 million students were percent (65.1 million) of students
(13.0 percent) graduate students.
enrolled in kindergarten through enrolled were in public school and
In 2021, 1.3 million Asians were
12th grade. Of these students, 18.1 percent (14.4 million) were
enrolled as undergraduates (7.6
26.1 million, or 48.1 percent of the in private school. Some levels of
percent of the undergraduate
total, were White (Table 1). This schooling had higher shares of
population), and 581,000 were
percentage ranged from 46.9 private school enrollment than
enrolled as graduate students
percent in kindergarten to 48.7 others. At the preschool level, pri-
(12.6 percent of the graduate
percent in high school. 3 In 2021, vate school attendance accounted
population). The same year, 3.4
there were 6.9 million Black K–12 for 42.6 percent of the total (1.7
million Hispanics were enrolled as
students (12.8 percent of the of 4.1 million), more than at later
undergraduates (20.6 percent of
total), 2.7 million Asian students in grades, apart from graduate
the undergraduate population),
these grades (4.9 percent of the school. Although private school
and 645,000 were enrolled as
total), and 13.9 million Hispanic enrollment was prevalent among
graduate students (14.0 percent).
students (25.7 percent of the preschool students, a majority
Students who spoke a language
total). Most K–12 students were (57.4 percent) attended public
other than English at home made
native-born. In 2021, 2.4 million preschools. The majority of
up 24.5 percent (4.1 million) of
K–12 students—4.4 percent of the U.S. K–12 students attended
undergraduates and 27.0 percent
total—were foreign-born. public schools, while 7.0 million
(1.2 million) of graduate students.
(12.8 percent) attended private
By comparison, the proportion
College schools. Looking at college enroll-
speaking a language other than
Throughout this report, the ment, Table 1 shows that 73.1
English among students at all
term “college” is used to percent of college students were
levels was 22.4 percent.
refer to enrollment in both enrolled in public school, and 26.9
undergraduate and graduate Foreign-born students were 11.1 percent were enrolled in private
schools. Undergraduate schools percent of undergraduates (1.8 school.
are generally 2- and 4-year million). Graduate school had the
Looking at Table 2, we see that
programs that lead to associate’s highest share of foreign-born
students in private schools
and bachelor’s degrees. Graduate students, with 909,000 students
came from homes with higher
schools enroll students pursuing born abroad in 2021, 19.8 percent
incomes than those students
advanced degrees such as of the total number of graduate
who attended public schools. In
students.
3
In this report, “high school” refers to 2021, private preschool students
students enrolled in grades 9 through 12.

Table 2.
Median Household Income of Students Enrolled in Preschool Through High School by Level of
Enrollment and Type of School: 2021
(Population aged 3 and older living in households. Income in inflation-adjusted 2021 dollars)
Type of school Preschool Kindergarten Grades 1 to 4 Grades 5 to 8 High school
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99,530 83,650 85,030 87,580 91,640
Public. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78,170 79,930 82,510 84,940 89,460
Private. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131,700 104,600 103,600 106,300 112,800
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2021 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates. For more information, refer to <www.census.gov/acs>.

U.S. Census Bureau 3

were in higher median-income enrolled in high school and had lower high school dropout rates
households ($131,700) than public not completed high school than the total population. Over
preschool students ($78,170). (Figure 1). It is worth noting that the course of the 17 years cov-
Moreover, those who attended some of these 18- to 24-year-olds ered in this report, the White rate
private kindergarten, elementary may later return to school, but at declined from 8.4 percent to 4.5
school, or high school came from the time of the survey and for the percent, and the Asian dropout
households with median incomes purposes of this report, they are rate declined from 4.0 percent to
of $103,600 to $112,800, whereas considered dropouts. High school 2.1 percent.
students who attended public dropout rates in the United States
schools in K–12 came from house- have declined about 6 percentage SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
holds with median incomes of points from 12.5 percent in 2005. TRENDS AND THE COVID-19
$79,930 to $89,460. This decline has been particularly PANDEMIC
noteworthy among Black and In the next sections of this report,
High School Dropout Rates Hispanic youth. The Black dropout we examine preschool and college
In 2021, the high school dropout rate declined from 14.2 percent in enrollment prior to and during the
rate for 18- to 24-year-olds was 2005 to 6.3 percent in 2021, while COVID-19 pandemic. Enrollment
5.8 percent—that is, 5.8 percent the Hispanic rate declined from in both college and preschool
of individuals between the ages 27.0 percent to 9.0 percent dur- shifted substantially after 2019.
of 18 and 24 were not currently ing the same period. For all years, One reason for this could be that
White and Asian respondents had

Figure 1.
High School Dropout Rates by Race and Hispanic Origin: 2005 to 2021

30

25

20

15

10
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic, other
Non-Hispanic, Black
5 Total
Non-Hispanic, White

Non-Hispanic, Asian

0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005–2021 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates. For more information, refer
to <www.census.gov/acs>.

4 U.S. Census Bureau

contrary to other levels of school- preschool from 2005 to 2021.4 height of the COVID-19 pandemic,
ing, preschool and college are The figure shows that from 2005 but further research is required to
optional to attend and, thus, may to 2019, preschool enrollment determine whether this is a direct
be more susceptible to eco- was becoming more common for result of the pandemic or the
nomic and social changes. Future young children, as it increased product of other demographic or
research will be able to determine by 3.8 percentage points over social shifts.
whether these changes are short- this period. Since 2019, this trend
Since the COVID-19 pandemic
term shocks or the beginning of shifted, as the percentage of 3- to
began in 2020, trends in early
long-term shifts. 6-year-olds enrolled in preschool
childhood enrollment have
declined by 9.3 percentage points
Preschool Enrollment and the reversed. It is not the intent of
from 2019 to 2021. The 2021 data
COVID-19 Pandemic this report to explain why pre-
show that 41.8 percent of 3- to
school enrollment has declined
Before examining preschool 6-year-olds were enrolled in pre-
since 2019, but it is nonetheless
enrollment during the COVID-19 school, the lowest rate since ACS
important to mention the likely
pandemic, we first explore histori- data collection began in 2005.
effect of the COVID-19 pandemic
cal rates of preschool enrollment. This shift occurred alongside the
on early childhood education.
Figure 2 shows the percentage
Some studies note that the decline
of 3- to 6-year-olds enrolled in 4
Those already enrolled in kindergarten
or a higher grade level are excluded from in preschool enrollment may be
the universe in Figure 2.

Figure 2.
Percentage of 3- to 6-Year-Olds Enrolled in Preschool by School Type: 2005 to 2021

60

50

Total enrolled
40

30

Public

20
Private

10

0
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021

Note: Those already enrolled in kindergarten or a higher grade level are excluded from the universe.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005–2021 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates. For more information, refer to
<www.census.gov/acs>.

U.S. Census Bureau 5

related to health and safety con- preschool enrollment rates from for each group from 2019 to 2021.
cerns about in-person schooling 2019 to 2021 across a series of Generally, the table shows that
options, lack of in-person school- geographic, demographic, social, across all characteristics there
ing options due to the COVID-19 and economic characteristics. was a drop in the percentage of
pandemic, and cuts to preschool children enrolled in preschool.6
Table 3 shows the percentage
funding. 5 In the next set of tables
of 3- to 6-year-olds enrolled in The most striking changes in
and maps, we examine changes in
preschool in 2019 and 2021 by Table 3 are the differences across
5
More information is available select demographic, social, and race and Hispanic origin groups.
at <https://nieer.org/wp-content/ economic characteristics as well The percentage of Asian children
uploads/2021/03/NIEER_Policy_Brief_
Impacts-of-Covid-19-on_Preschool_ as the percentage-point change 6
All 2019 and 2021 comparisons were
Enrollment_and_Spending_3_16_21.pdf>. statistically different from one another.

Table 3.
Percentage of 3- to 6-Year-Olds Enrolled In Preschool by Select Demographic, Social, and
Economic Characteristics: 2019 and 2021
2019 2021
Characteristics Percent Margin of Percent Margin of Percentage-
enrolled error (±)1 enrolled error (±)1 point change
Age
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.8 0.53 28.5 0.45 –6.3
4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60.2 0.45 49.0 0.57 –11.2
5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69.6 0.74 57.3 0.71 –12.3
6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.1 1.86 20.5 1.62 –5.6
Sex
Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51.3 0.41 42.2 0.38 –9.1
Female. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50.8 0.44 41.4 0.52 –9.4
Race and Hispanic Origin
Non-Hispanic, White alone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53.2 0.37 46.0 0.44 –7.2
Non-Hispanic, Black alone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53.0 1.08 39.6 1.07 –13.4
Non-Hispanic, Asian alone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56.7 1.37 38.1 1.26 –18.6
Non-Hispanic, other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52.0 1.15 43.4 1.02 –8.6
Hispanic (any race). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44.6 0.74 35.0 0.69 –9.6
Parental Education
Less than high school. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.7 1.25 25.7 1.11 –9.0
High school or equivalent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.1 0.91 30.9 0.64 –9.2
Some college. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47.0 0.67 38.4 0.67 –8.6
Bachelor’s degree or higher . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62.2 0.40 51.6 0.49 –10.6
Poverty Status
In poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42.2 0.86 32.3 0.89 –9.9
Not in poverty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53.1 0.33 44.0 0.37 –9.1
Family Structure/Parental Work Status
Two-parent household:
Both parents working. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58.6 0.46 50.0 0.53 –8.6
One parent working . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46.9 0.67 37.1 0.68 –9.8
Neither in labor force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.4 3.59 33.3 3.22 –8.1
One-parent household:
Working. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47.8 0.68 38.2 0.62 –9.6
Not in labor force. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.6 1.47 30.4 1.32 –7.2
Parental Nativity
Foreign-born parents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50.0 0.69 37.9 0.65 –12.1
Native-born parents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51.7 0.38 43.5 0.34 –8.2
Household Marital Status
Married. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53.4 0.39 44.3 0.39 –9.1
Not married. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46.5 0.62 36.9 0.57 –9.6
1
Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. A margin of error is a measure of an estimate’s variability. The larger
the margin of error in relation to the size of the estimate, the less reliable the estimate. This number when added to or subtracted from the
estimate forms the 90 percent confidence interval.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019 and 2021 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates. For more information, refer to
<www.census.gov/acs>.

6 U.S. Census Bureau

enrolled in preschool declined by in enrollment trends may be compared to an 8.2 percentage-
18.6 percentage points from 2019 explained by myriad socioeco- point decline for children with
to 2021, a larger decline than any nomic, geographic, and cultural native parents.
other group. This was a large shift factors that are beyond the scope
Beyond individual characteris-
for a group that in 2019 had the of this report.
tics, another point of interest is
highest rate of preschool enroll-
Beyond the differences across whether the decline in preschool
ment of any racial or ethnic group.
race groups and Hispanic origin, enrollment differed across geo-
Black children had a slightly
declines are evident across a graphic areas. Figure 3 shows a
smaller decline, at 13.4 percent-
number of other different charac- state map displaying the percent-
age points over the same time.
teristics. Looking at age, 4- and age-point change in preschool
By contrast, children who were
5-year-olds had a sharper decline enrollment for 3- to 6-year-olds
White (7.2 percentage points),
in preschool enrollment than 3- from 2019 to 2021. From 2019 to
Some Other Race (8.6 percent-
and 6-year-olds. Substantive dif- 2021, 42 states and the District of
age points), or Hispanic (any
ferences also emerged in parents’ Columbia had statistically signifi-
race) (9.6 percentage points) had
nativity status. Children with at cant declines in preschool enroll-
smaller drops in preschool enroll-
least one foreign-born parent saw ment, with the other eight hav-
ment than Asian children. These
a 12.1 percentage-point decline, ing nonsignificant changes. The
racial and ethnic differences

Figure 3.
AK
Percentage-Point Decline in Preschool Enrollment
From 2019 to 2021

0 500 Miles

WA

ME
MT ND

OR MN VT
ID NH MA
SD WI NY
MI
WY CT
RI
IA PA
NE NJ
NV OH
DE
UT IL IN
CA CO WV MD
KS MO VA
KY
DC
NC
TN
AZ OK
NM AR SC
Percentage-point
AL GA
MS decline by state
12.0 or more
TX LA 9.0 to 11.9
7.0 to 8.9
FL 3.0 to 6.9
No significant
change
0 100 Miles
HI

0 100 Miles

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019 and 2021 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates. For more information, refer to <www.census.gov/acs>.

U.S. Census Bureau 7

extent of the decline varied across in 2011 and 2012.7 However, there percent in 2019 to 78.2 percent
states, from 3.6 percentage points are notable differences between in 2021. In comparison, between
in Indiana to 19.0 percentage the 2019 to 2021 and 2011 to 2019 2011 and 2019 the undergraduate
points in New Hampshire. Figure declines. share of total enrollment declined
3 shows that there is no clear by 2.5 percentage points. While
Table 4 compares levels of
regional pattern in the size of the the public undergraduate share
college enrollment in 2011,
decline across states, beyond the of total college enrollment
2019, and 2021, as well as the
concentration of nonsignificant fell by 3.2 percentage points
declines between 2011 and 2019
changes in the upper Midwest and from 2019 to 2021, the private
and between 2019 and 2021, by
the large declines on the West undergraduate enrollment share
type of enrollment and level of
Coast (California, Oregon, and increased by 1.3 percentage
educational attainment. This table
Washington). points. In contrast to the 2019
also shows the distribution of
to 2021 period, undergraduate
Comparing Two Periods of enrolled students across these
enrollment declined in both the
College Enrollment Declines: characteristics.
public and private sectors from
2019–2021 and 2011–2019
The 2019 to 2021 total college 2011 to 2019. Graduate enrollment
Total college enrollment fell by enrollment decline occurred increased from 2011 to 2019 by
over one-half million students solely in the public sector at 195,000 students and increased
between 2019 and 2021, the undergraduate level. The by 273,000 students between
coinciding with the COVID-19 undergraduate share of total 2019 and 2021. These increases
pandemic. This change was college enrollment fell 1.9 in graduate enrollment occurred
a continuation of a long-term percentage points, from 80.1 in both the public and private
decline in college enrollment, with sectors from 2019 to 2021.
over 2 million fewer students in 7
Enrollment was not statistically signifi-
cantly different in 2011 and 2012, and thus
2019 than during peak enrollment both years serve as peak enrollment.

Table 4.
Changes in College Enrollment by Enrollment Type and Educational Attainment: 2011–2021
(Numbers in thousands)
2011–2019 2019–2021
2011 2019 2021
Characteristics growth growth
Number Percent1 Number Percent1 Number Percent1 Number Percent1 Number Percent1
Total enrolled . . . . . 23,720 100.0 21,690 100.0 21,070 100.0 –2,030 X –620 X

Type of School
Undergraduate. . . . . . . . . . 19,600 82.6 17,370 80.1 16,470 78.2 –2,230 –2.5 –900 –1.9
Public. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,310 64.5 13,700 63.2 12,640 60.0 –1,610 –1.3 –1,060 –3.2
Private . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,287 18.1 3,664 16.9 3,830 18.2 –623 –1.2 166 1.3
Graduate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,127 17.4 4,322 19.9 4,595 21.8 195 2.5 273 1.9
Public. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,405 10.1 2,594 12.0 2,753 13.1 189 1.9 159 1.1
Private . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,722 7.3 1,728 8.0 1,842 8.7 6 0.7 114 0.7

Educational Attainment2
High school graduate or
equivalent. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,541 10.7 2,641 12.2 2,846 13.5 100 1.5 205 1.3
Some college. . . . . . . . . . . 13,380 56.4 10,780 49.7 9,665 45.9 –2,600 –6.7 –1,115 –3.8
Associate’s degree . . . . . . 2,426 10.2 2,453 11.3 2,486 11.8 27 1.1 33 0.5
Bachelor’s degree or
higher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,306 22.4 5,759 26.6 6,021 28.6 453 4.2 262 2.0

X Not applicable.
1
Percent columns show the share of the total distribution and the percentage-point growth in the share.
2
The total excludes respondents who reported college enrollment with an educational attainment level lower than high school graduate or
equivalent.
Note: Estimates are for the population 18 years and older. Numbers and percentages may not sum to totals due to rounding.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011, 2019, and 2021 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates. For more information, refer to
<www.census.gov/acs>.

8 U.S. Census Bureau

The 2019 to 2021 decline in respectively. 8 North Dakota and In both the 2011 to 2019 and 2019
public undergraduate enroll- Wyoming are part of a cluster to 2021 periods, total college
ment showed significant declines of states in the Midwest and enrollment declined only among
in states across every region. West regions with large public those reporting having some col-
Figure 4 shows a state-level map undergraduate enrollment share lege education without complet-
of changes over this period in declines, including 4.8 and 4.5 ing an associate’s or bachelor’s
the share of 18- to 24-year-olds percentage-point declines in degree or higher (Table 4). The
enrolled as undergraduates in Montana and Nebraska, respec- share of enrolled college students
public institutions. States with tively. No state experienced a reporting this level of attainment
some of the largest declines in significant increase in the share fell from 56.4 percent in 2011 to
this share were Arkansas, North of 18- to 24-year-olds enrolled in 49.7 percent in 2019, and it fell
Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming, public undergraduate colleges further to 45.9 percent in 2021.
with public undergraduate during this period. The shares of college students
enrollment declines of 6.1, 5.8, reporting a high school diploma,
5.9, and 5.6 percentage points, associate’s degree, or bachelor’s
8
The percentage-point declines in
public undergraduate enrollment for these degree or higher all increased in
states were not statistically different from both periods.
each other.

Figure 4.
AK
Percentage-Point Decline in Public Undergraduate Enrollment
Among 18- to 24-Year-Olds From 2019 to 2021

0 500 Miles

WA

ME
MT ND

OR MN VT
ID NH MA
SD WI NY
MI
WY CT
RI
IA PA
NE NJ
NV OH
DE
UT IL IN
CA CO WV MD
KS MO VA
KY
DC
NC
TN
AZ OK
NM AR SC
Percentage-point
AL GA
MS decline by state
4.5 or more
TX LA 2.0 to 4.4
Less than 2.0
FL
Not statistically
significant

0 100 Miles
HI

0 100 Miles

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019 and 2021 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates. For more information, refer to <www.census.gov/acs>.

U.S. Census Bureau 9

Table 5 compares the number a decline of 2.0 percentage points 10.9 percent in 2011 to 9.2 percent
and share of those 18 years old or from 2011 to 2019. For those aged in 2019, before declining further to
older enrolled in college across 25 and older, the share enrolled 9.0 percent in 2021.
demographic characteristics in in college fell from 5.0 percent in
The share enrolled in college
2011, 2019, and 2021. 2011 to 4.0 percent in 2019, before
declined among all race and
falling further to 3.8 percent in
Total college enrollment declined Hispanic origin groups from 2019
2021.
for all age groups between 2019 to 2021 and from 2011 to 2019.
and 2021. In 2021, 47.4 percent of The number of men and women The share of the Asian popula-
18- to 19-year-olds were enrolled enrolled in all levels of college tion enrolled in college was the
in college, a decline of 1.1 percent- both declined from 2019 to 2021, highest among all groups in 2021;
age points from 2019. In contrast, by 429,000 and 190,000, respec- however, this share declined by
between 2011 and 2019 the share tively. The share of men aged 0.8 percentage points from 2019
of 18- to 19-year-olds enrolled 18 and over enrolled in college to 2021 and by 2.2 percentage
in college increased by 1.0 per- declined from 7.8 percent in 2019 points from 2011 to 2019. The
centage point. College enroll- to 7.3 percent in 2021, after fall- share of the White and Black
ment among 20- to 24-year-olds ing from 9.0 percent in 2011. The populations enrolled in college
declined by 1.3 percentage points share of women aged 18 and over both declined by 0.3 percentage
between 2019 and 2021, following enrolled in college declined from points from 2019 to 2021. These

Table 5.
Changes in College Enrollment by Select Characteristics: 2011–2021
(Numbers in thousands)
2011–2019 2019–2021
2011 2019 2021
Characteristic growth growth
Number Percent1 Number Percent1 Number Percent1 Number Percent1 Number Percent1
Total enrolled . . . . . . . 23,720 10.0 21,690 8.5 21,070 8.2 –2,030 –1.5 –620 –0.4
Age
18 to 19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,328 47.5 4,321 48.5 4,192 47.4 –7 1.0 –129 –1.1
20 to 24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,168 41.5 8,480 39.5 8,165 38.2 –688 –2.0 –315 –1.3
25 and older. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,230 5.0 8,888 4.0 8,709 3.8 –1,342 –1.0 –179 –0.1
Sex
Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,370 9.0 9,646 7.8 9,217 7.3 –724 –1.2 –429 –0.5
Female. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,350 10.9 12,040 9.2 11,850 9.0 –1,310 –1.7 –190 –0.2
Race and Hispanic Origin
Non-Hispanic, White alone . . 14,180 9.0 11,690 7.3 11,060 7.0 –2,490 –1.7 –630 –0.3
Non-Hispanic, Black alone. . . 3,531 12.6 3,062 9.9 2,882 9.6 –469 –2.7 –180 –0.3
Non-Hispanic, Asian alone. . . 1,740 14.9 1,903 12.7 1,822 12.0 163 –2.2 –81 –0.8
Non-Hispanic, other . . . . . . . . 832 14.8 941 12.9 1,268 10.6 109 –1.9 327 –2.3
Hispanic (any race). . . . . . . . . 3,436 10.0 4,093 9.8 4,037 9.2 657 –0.2 –56 –0.5
Nativity
Native-born. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20,680 10.3 18,720 8.8 18,330 8.5 –1,960 –1.6 –390 –0.3
Foreign-born . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,043 8.1 2,967 7.0 2,740 6.4 –76 –1.1 –227 –0.6

Percent columns show the share of the total population and the percentage-point growth in the share.
1

Note: Estimates are for the population 18 years and older.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011, 2019, and 2021 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates. For more information, refer to
<www.census.gov/acs>.

10 U.S. Census Bureau

declines were a continuation of changes in school enrollment SOURCE AND ACCURACY OF
enrollment declines from 2011 to since the COVID-19 pandemic THE ESTIMATES
2019 for both groups, as the share began in 2020. While we do not
The data presented in this report
of the White population enrolled identify the causes of the shifts
are based on the ACS samples
fell by 1.7 percentage points and we see in school enrollment over
interviewed from January 1, 2019,
the share of the Black population time, the timing of the COVID-19
through December 31, 2019,
enrolled fell by 2.7 percentage pandemic and declines in early
and January 1, 2021, through
points over this period. Enrollment childhood and college enrollment
December 31, 2021. The estimates
among the Hispanic population suggest that the pandemic may
based on these samples describe
fell by 0.5 percentage points have affected people’s choices
the actual average values of
from 2019 to 2021, following a 0.2 about school enrollment.
person, household, and housing
percentage-point decrease from
Preschool and college enrollment unit characteristics over these
2011 to 2019. While the share of
are unique from other levels of periods of collection. Sampling
the population identifying as some
school in that they are optional to error is the uncertainty between
other race enrolled in college fell
attend and therefore more sus- an estimate based on a sample
by 2.3 percentage points from
ceptible to changes in the econ- and the corresponding value
2019 to 2021, the number enrolled
omy and society more broadly. that would be obtained if the
in this group increased by 327,000
These changes could be tempo- estimate were based on the entire
during this period.
rary or part of a broader long- population (as from a census).
Total college enrollment fell term shift. With vaccinations now Measures of sampling error are
among both the native-born readily available and remote learn- provided in the form of margins
and the foreign-born from 2019 ing becoming normalized, we may of error for all estimates included
to 2021. For the native-born see early childhood education and in this report. All comparative
population, college enrollment college enrollment bounce back to statements in this report have
declined by 390,000, and the pre-COVID-19 levels. Or this could undergone statistical testing
share enrolled decreased by be part of a larger trend that and comparisons are significant
0.3 percentage points. For the shifts the way individuals make at the 90 percent confidence
foreign-born population, college choices about school enrollment, level. In addition to sampling
enrollment declined by 227,000, particularly as it relates to college error, nonsampling error may
and the share enrolled decreased enrollment. It is crucial for future be introduced during any of
by 0.6 percentage points. From research to track these enroll- the operations used to collect
2011 to 2019, the share of the ment trends as more data become and process survey data such
native-born population enrolled available. as editing, reviewing, or keying
declined by 1.6 percentage points, data from questionnaires. For
and the share of the foreign-born MORE INFORMATION more information on sampling
population enrolled declined by 1.1 and estimation methods,
For more information about
percentage points. confidentiality protection, and
educational attainment in the
sampling and nonsampling errors,
United States, refer to the Census
SUMMARY refer to the 2019 and 2021 ACS
Bureau’s website on educational
1-year Accuracy of the Data
This report shows trends in school attainment at <www.census.gov/
documents at <www.census.gov/
enrollment from 2005 to 2021 topics/employment/commuting.
programs-surveys/acs/technical-
using the ACS. This is the first html>.
documentation/code-lists.html>.
Census Bureau report to examine

U.S. Census Bureau 11

WHAT IS THE AMERICAN in 2006, ACS data have been Education and Social Stratification
COMMUNITY SURVEY? released annually for geographic Branch
areas with populations of 65,000 Social, Economic, and Housing
The American Community Survey
and greater. For information on the Statistics Division
(ACS) is a nationwide survey
ACS sample design and other top- U.S. Census Bureau
designed to provide communities
ics, visit <www.census.gov/acs>.
with reliable and timely demo- 301-763-2464
graphic, social, economic, and
CONTACTS
housing data for the nation, states, SUGGESTED CITATION
congressional districts, counties, For questions related to the
Fabina, Jacob, Erik L. Hernandez,
places, and other localities every contents of this report and the
and Kevin McElrath, “School
year. It has an annual sample size accompanying tables, contact the
Enrollment in the United States:
of about 3.5 million addresses authors by email or phone at:
2021,” American Community
across the United States and
Jacob Fabina Survey Reports, U.S. Census
Puerto Rico and includes both
housing units and group quarters <jacob.fabina@census.gov> Bureau, Washington, DC, 2023.
(e.g., nursing facilities and prisons).
Erik L. Hernandez
The ACS is conducted in every
county throughout the nation, and <erik.hernandez@census.gov>
every municipio in Puerto Rico, Kevin McElrath
where it is called the Puerto Rico
<kevin.mcelrath@census.gov>
Community Survey. Beginning

12 U.S. Census Bureau