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.

Data source:

• Office of Financial Management

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