There were approximately 18.58 million college students in the U.S. in 2022, with around 13.49 million enrolled in public colleges and a further 5.09 million students enrolled in private colleges. The figures are projected to remain relatively constant over the next few years.

What is the most expensive college in the U.S.? The overall number of higher education institutions in the U.S. totals around 4,000, and California is the state with the most. One important factor that students – and their parents – must consider before choosing a college is cost. With annual expenses totaling almost 78,000 U.S. dollars, Harvey Mudd College in California was the most expensive college for the 2021-2022 academic year. There are three major costs of college: tuition, room, and board. The difference in on-campus and off-campus accommodation costs is often negligible, but they can change greatly depending on the college town.

The differences between public and private colleges Public colleges, also called state colleges, are mostly funded by state governments. Private colleges, on the other hand, are not funded by the government but by private donors and endowments. Typically, private institutions are  much more expensive. Public colleges tend to offer different tuition fees for students based on whether they live in-state or out-of-state, while private colleges have the same tuition cost for every student.

In 2022, about 6.57 million male students were enrolled in degree-granting postsecondary institutions as undergraduates. This is compared to 8.82 million female undergraduate students who were enrolled in that same year. By 2031, these figures are projected to increase to 7.12 million and 9.7 million respectively.

In 2021, there were about 2.73 million students enrolled in private nonprofit institutions in the United States, as compared to 777,430 in private for-profit institutions. The number of students enrolled in private nonprofit institutions decreased slightly from the previous year, when about 2.74 million students were enrolled.

This dataset shows all school level performance data used to create CPS School Report Cards for the 2011-2012 school year. Metrics are described as follows (also available for download at http://bit.ly/uhbzah): NDA indicates "No Data Available." SAFETY ICON: Student Perception/Safety category from 5 Essentials survey // SAFETY SCORE: Student Perception/Safety score from 5 Essentials survey // FAMILY INVOLVEMENT ICON: Involved Families category from 5 Essentials survey // FAMILY INVOLVEMENT SCORE: Involved Families score from 5 Essentials survey // ENVIRONMENT ICON: Supportive Environment category from 5 Essentials survey // ENVIRONMENT SCORE: Supportive Environment score from 5 Essentials survey // INSTRUCTION ICON: Ambitious Instruction category from 5 Essentials survey // INSTRUCTION SCORE: Ambitious Instruction score from 5 Essentials survey // LEADERS ICON: Effective Leaders category from 5 Essentials survey // LEADERS SCORE: Effective Leaders score from 5 Essentials survey // TEACHERS ICON: Collaborative Teachers category from 5 Essentials survey // TEACHERS SCORE: Collaborative Teachers score from 5 Essentials survey // PARENT ENGAGEMENT ICON: Parent Perception/Engagement category from parent survey // PARENT ENGAGEMENT SCORE: Parent Perception/Engagement score from parent survey // AVERAGE STUDENT ATTENDANCE: Average daily student attendance // RATE OF MISCONDUCTS (PER 100 STUDENTS): # of misconducts per 100 students//AVERAGE TEACHER ATTENDANCE: Average daily teacher attendance // INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM COMPLIANCE RATE: % of IEPs and 504 plans completed by due date // PK-2 LITERACY: % of students at benchmark on DIBELS or IDEL // PK-2 MATH: % of students at benchmark on mClass // GR3-5 GRADE LEVEL MATH: % of students at grade level, math, grades 3-5 // GR3-5 GRADE LEVEL READ: % of students at grade level, reading, grades 3-5 // GR3-5 KEEP PACE READ: % of students meeting growth targets, reading, grades 3-5 // GR3-5 KEEP PACE MATH: % of students meeting growth targets, math, grades 3-5 // GR6-8 GRADE LEVEL MATH: % of students at grade level, math, grades 6-8 // GR6-8 GRADE LEVEL READ: % of students at grade level, reading, grades 6-8 // GR6-8 KEEP PACE MATH: % of students meeting growth targets, math, grades 6-8 // GR6-8 KEEP PACE READ: % of students meeting growth targets, reading, grades 6-8 // GR-8 EXPLORE MATH: % of students at college readiness benchmark, math // GR-8 EXPLORE READ: % of students at college readiness benchmark, reading // ISAT EXCEEDING MATH: % of students exceeding on ISAT, math // ISAT EXCEEDING READ: % of students exceeding on ISAT, reading // ISAT VALUE ADD MATH: ISAT value-add value, math // ISAT VALUE ADD READ: ISAT value-add value, reading // ISAT VALUE ADD COLOR MATH: ISAT value-add color, math // ISAT VALUE ADD COLOR READ: ISAT value-add color, reading // STUDENTS TAKING ALGEBRA: % of students taking algebra // STUDENTS PASSING ALGEBRA: % of students passing algebra // 9TH GRADE EXPLORE (2009): Average EXPLORE score, 9th graders who tested in fall 2009 // 9TH GRADE EXPLORE (2010): Average EXPLORE score, 9th graders who tested in fall 2010 // 10TH GRADE PLAN (2009): Average PLAN score, 10th graders who tested in fall 2009 // 10TH GRADE PLAN (2010): Average PLAN score, 10th graders who tested in fall 2010 // NET CHANGE EXPLORE AND PLAN: Difference between Grade 9 Explore (2009) and Grade 10 Plan (2010) // 11TH GRADE AVERAGE ACT (2011): Average ACT score, 11th graders who tested in fall 2011 // NET CHANGE PLAN AND ACT: Difference between Grade 10 Plan (2009) and Grade 11 ACT (2011) // COLLEGE ELIGIBILITY: % of graduates eligible for a selective four-year college // GRADUATION RATE: % of students who have graduated within five years // COLLEGE/ ENROLLMENT RATE: % of students enrolled in college // COLLEGE ENROLLMENT (NUMBER OF STUDENTS): Total school enrollment // FRESHMAN ON TRACK RATE: Freshmen On-Track rate // RCDTS: Region County District Type Schools Code

This paper examines the effects of community college tuition on college enrollment. I exploit quasi-experimental variation from discounts for community college tuition in Texas that were expanded over time and across geography for identification. Community college enrollment in the first year after high school increased by 5.1 percentage points for each $1,000 decrease in tuition, which implies an elasticity of -0.29. Lower tuition also increased transfer from community colleges to universities. Marginal community college enrollees induced to attend by reduced tuition have similar graduation rates as average community college enrollees.

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Tertiary school enrollment, percent of all eligible children: The latest value from 2020 is 6.67 percent, an increase from 6.08 percent in 2016. In comparison, the world average is 49.35 percent, based on data from 134 countries. Historically, the average for Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1971 to 2020 is 2.72 percent. The minimum value, 0.68 percent, was reached in 1971 while the maximum of 7.81 percent was recorded in 2012.

UA: Over-Age Students: Primary: Female: % of Female Enrollment data was reported at 7.058 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 7.028 % for 2015. UA: Over-Age Students: Primary: Female: % of Female Enrollment data is updated yearly, averaging 8.766 % from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2016, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.713 % in 2005 and a record low of 7.028 % in 2015. UA: Over-Age Students: Primary: Female: % of Female Enrollment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ukraine – Table UA.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Over-age students are the percentage of those enrolled who are older than the official school-age range for primary education.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; ;

In the academic year 2024, the enrollment rate in universities and junior colleges reached around 62.8 percent for male students and 61.7 percent for female students in Japan. The share of young women attending higher education institutions increased more than tenfold in the past 60 years. The overall direct enrollment rate after high school graduation was 62 percent.

Central African Republic CF: School Enrollment: Tertiary: % Gross data was reported at 2.725 % in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.891 % for 2011. Central African Republic CF: School Enrollment: Tertiary: % Gross data is updated yearly, averaging 1.111 % from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2012, with 29 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.891 % in 2011 and a record low of 0.085 % in 1971. Central African Republic CF: School Enrollment: Tertiary: % Gross data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Central African Republic – Table CF.World Bank.WDI: Social: Education Statistics. Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Tertiary education, whether or not to an advanced research qualification, normally requires, as a minimum condition of admission, the successful completion of education at the secondary level.;UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 24, 2024. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;Weighted average;

Germany DE: School Enrollment: Secondary: Private: % of Total Secondary data was reported at 10.013 % in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 9.973 % for 2021. Germany DE: School Enrollment: Secondary: Private: % of Total Secondary data is updated yearly, averaging 8.688 % from Dec 1999 (Median) to 2022, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.013 % in 2022 and a record low of 6.536 % in 1999. Germany DE: School Enrollment: Secondary: Private: % of Total Secondary data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.World Bank.WDI: Social: Education Statistics. Private enrollment refers to pupils or students enrolled in institutions that are not operated by a public authority but controlled and managed, whether for profit or not, by a private body such as a nongovernmental organization, religious body, special interest group, foundation or business enterprise.;UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed September 30, 2024. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;Weighted average;

Malawi: Tertiary school enrollment, percent of all eligible children: The latest value from 2011 is 0.85 percent, an increase from 0.74 percent in 2010. In comparison, the world average is 36.62 percent, based on data from 140 countries. Historically, the average for Malawi from 1973 to 2011 is 0.47 percent. The minimum value, 0.29 percent, was reached in 1999 while the maximum of 0.85 percent was recorded in 2011.

These are the basic settings used in the simulations. This resulted in 6400 simulations.

Vietnam VN: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Tertiary School Enrollment: Gross data was reported at 1.237 Ratio in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.001 Ratio for 2015. Vietnam VN: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Tertiary School Enrollment: Gross data is updated yearly, averaging 0.769 Ratio from Dec 1976 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.237 Ratio in 2016 and a record low of 0.313 Ratio in 1981. Vietnam VN: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Tertiary School Enrollment: Gross data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Vietnam – Table VN.World Bank: Education Statistics. Gender parity index for gross enrollment ratio in tertiary education is the ratio of women to men enrolled at tertiary level in public and private schools.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

In fall 2021, about 246 public 2-year higher education institutions across the United States had a student capacity between 1,000 and 2,499. This was compared to three private non-profit institutions and 31 private for-profit institutions with the same capacity.

Jamaica: Tertiary school enrollment, percent of all eligible children: The latest value from 2015 is 26.41 percent, an increase from 25.82 percent in 2013. In comparison, the world average is 43.53 percent, based on data from 142 countries. Historically, the average for Jamaica from 1971 to 2015 is 14.27 percent. The minimum value, 4.99 percent, was reached in 1971 while the maximum of 27.46 percent was recorded in 2012.

Ireland: Tertiary school enrollment, percent of all eligible children: The latest value from 2022 is 76.6 percent, a decline from 78.78 percent in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 55.47 percent, based on data from 119 countries. Historically, the average for Ireland from 1971 to 2022 is 42.97 percent. The minimum value, 11.59 percent, was reached in 1973 while the maximum of 78.78 percent was recorded in 2021.

Malaysia School Enrollment: Tertiary: % Gross data was reported at 44.117 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 42.374 % for 2015. Malaysia School Enrollment: Tertiary: % Gross data is updated yearly, averaging 7.352 % from Dec 1979 (Median) to 2016, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 44.117 % in 2016 and a record low of 3.823 % in 1979. Malaysia School Enrollment: Tertiary: % Gross data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Malaysia – Table MY.World Bank: Education Statistics. Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Tertiary education, whether or not to an advanced research qualification, normally requires, as a minimum condition of admission, the successful completion of education at the secondary level.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Persistence rates, graduation rates, average time to graduation and number of students in an entry cohort for undergraduate degree students, within the province or territory of first enrolment, by demographic characteristics.

Uganda UG: School Enrollment: Tertiary: Female: % Gross data was reported at 4.037 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.162 % for 2012. Uganda UG: School Enrollment: Tertiary: Female: % Gross data is updated yearly, averaging 0.748 % from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2014, with 35 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.037 % in 2014 and a record low of 0.189 % in 1970. Uganda UG: School Enrollment: Tertiary: Female: % Gross data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Uganda – Table UG.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Tertiary education, whether or not to an advanced research qualification, normally requires, as a minimum condition of admission, the successful completion of education at the secondary level.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Norway NO: School Enrollment: Primary: Male: % Net data was reported at 99.916 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 99.905 % for 2015. Norway NO: School Enrollment: Primary: Male: % Net data is updated yearly, averaging 98.999 % from Dec 1976 (Median) to 2016, with 37 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 99.916 % in 2016 and a record low of 84.050 % in 1997. Norway NO: School Enrollment: Primary: Male: % Net data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Norway – Table NO.World Bank: Education Statistics. Net enrollment rate is the ratio of children of official school age who are enrolled in school to the population of the corresponding official school age. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).