COLLEGE: Enrollment among young men sharply declines

The decline in college enrollment among young Americans, particularly young men, is a significant trend that has been observed over the past decade.

Here are some key points from the information based on Pew Research’s recent findings:

1. Overall Decline in College Enrollment: College enrollment among 18- to 24-year-olds in the United States has been gradually declining since 2011. In 2022, there were approximately 1.2 million fewer young people enrolled in college compared to the peak in 2011.
   
2. Gender Disparity: Most of the decline in college enrollment can be attributed to fewer young men pursuing higher education. About 1 million fewer young men are enrolled in college, compared to only 0.2 million fewer young women. Consequently, the proportion of male students among young college students has dropped from 47% in 2011 to 44% in 2022.
   
3. Differences in College Type: The decline in male college enrollment is particularly pronounced in four-year colleges. Today, only 42% of students aged 18 to 24 at four-year schools are men, down from 47% in 2011. In contrast, the gender balance at two-year colleges, which are mainly community colleges, has remained relatively stable, with men representing 49% of students.
   
4. High School Graduates and Enrollment: The decline in college enrollment among young men is not linked to a decrease in the overall number of high school graduates aged 18 to 24. Instead, it is driven by a lower percentage of high school graduates choosing to enroll in college. In 2011, 47% of young male high school graduates enrolled in college, but this figure dropped to 39% in 2022. The decline among young female high school graduates has been less significant, going from 52% to 48%.
   
5. Racial and Ethnic Disparities: The gender gap in college enrollment has widened, especially among White high school graduates. In 2011, there was a 4-point difference between young White men and women enrolling in college. However, in 2022, this difference increased to 10 percentage points, with young White women being more likely to enroll.
   
6. Reasons for Not Completing College: A Pew Research Center survey from 2021 found that there are gender differences in the reasons people give for not completing college. Men were more likely to cite reasons like not wanting to attend college or feeling that they didn’t need more education for their desired job. Both men and women were equally likely to mention the cost of a four-year degree as a major obstacle to completing college.

These trends suggest a shift in college enrollment patterns, with fewer young men choosing to pursue higher education, particularly at four-year institutions, and differences in the reasons for not completing college between men and women. Economic factors and changing perceptions of the value of a college degree may be contributing to these shifts.