Public Higher Education Enrollment

Compared to Prime College-Age Population

• Demographic pressures on higher education have been strong since the children of Baby Boomers reached college age.
• A flattening of prime college-age populations encompassed much of the 2010 - 2020 period, even as the older student population continued to rise.
• While most institutions have experienced declining enrollment, with the University of Washington being the exception, the bulk of that decline has been in the community and technical colleges.
• Fall 2023 enrollment in public higher education enrollment grew by 2% compared to fall 2022. This increase was driven by enrollment in community and technical colleges that grew by 5% year-over-year. Fall 2023 enrollment in 4-year institutions continued to decline but at a slower pace, -1% year-over year vs -4% year-over-year in fall 2022.

Data source:

• Office of Financial Management
• State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

E-mail: OFM.Forecasting@ofm.wa.gov