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.

School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) in United States was reported at 79.36 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In the academic year of 2023/24, around 21 million students were enrolled for undergraduate degrees in the United States. This was a slight increase from the previous year, when 20.6 million students were enrolled as undergraduates.

Of those aged 20 to 21 years of age in the United States, 52.8 percent were enrolled in higher education as of 2020, a considerable increase when compared to 31.9 percent in 1970. For those aged 18 to 19, 49 percent were enrolled in higher education in 2020.

United States US: School Enrollment: Tertiary: % Gross data was reported at 71.648 % in 1998. This records a decrease from the previous number of 78.594 % for 1996. United States US: School Enrollment: Tertiary: % Gross data is updated yearly, averaging 58.129 % from Dec 1971 (Median) to 1998, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 79.176 % in 1993 and a record low of 47.306 % in 1971. United States US: School Enrollment: Tertiary: % Gross data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.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).

In 2022, there were approximately 107,700 students with American Indian or Alaskan Native heritage enrolled at a university in the United States. This is a slight increase from the previous year, when there were 106,600 students with American Indian or Alaska Native heritage enrolled in postsecondary education.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate - Enrolled in College Full Time 16-24 Yrs. (LNU04023002) from Jan 1985 to Jun 2025 about 16 to 24 years, enrolled, full-time, tertiary schooling, education, unemployment, rate, and USA.

United States US: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Tertiary School Enrollment: Gross data was reported at 1.313 Ratio in 1998. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.305 Ratio for 1996. United States US: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Tertiary School Enrollment: Gross data is updated yearly, averaging 1.135 Ratio from Dec 1971 (Median) to 1998, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.313 Ratio in 1998 and a record low of 0.690 Ratio in 1971. United States US: 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 United States – Table US.World Bank.WDI: 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).

The Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS) series was designed to provide comprehensive information on various aspects of postsecondary education in the United States and its territories (American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Marshall Islands) and Department of Defense schools outside the United States. The HEGIS Fall Enrollment Component for 1973 sought enrollment data from 3,015 institutions of higher education both public and nonpublic (2-and 4-year) which is the only survey giving a national count of the numbers of students enrolled in these institutions. The data collected from the 50 states, District of Columbia, and outlying territories give counts of total enrollments by class level, sex, race, calendar system, type of accreditation, attendance status (full time vs. part time) and enrollments of first time students. All of these data are acquired in terms of head counts and full time equivalents, by state.

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

Graph and download economic data for Ratio of Female to Male Tertiary School Enrollment: All Income Levels for Latin America and Caribbean (SEENRTERTFMZSLCN) from 1970 to 2023 about Caribbean Economies, Latin America, enrolled, females, males, ratio, tertiary schooling, education, and income.

United States US: School Enrollment: Tertiary: Male: % Gross data was reported at 62.150 % in 1998. This records a decrease from the previous number of 68.387 % for 1996. United States US: School Enrollment: Tertiary: Male: % Gross data is updated yearly, averaging 55.667 % from Dec 1971 (Median) to 1998, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 69.559 % in 1993 and a record low of 51.650 % in 1980. United States US: School Enrollment: Tertiary: Male: % Gross data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.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).

The Colleges and Universities feature class/shapefile is composed of all Post Secondary Education facilities as defined by the Integrated Post Secondary Education System (IPEDS, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES, https://nces.ed.gov/), US Department of Education for the 2018-2019 school year. Included are Doctoral/Research Universities, Masters Colleges and Universities, Baccalaureate Colleges, Associates Colleges, Theological seminaries, Medical Schools and other health care professions, Schools of engineering and technology, business and management, art, music, design, Law schools, Teachers colleges, Tribal colleges, and other specialized institutions. Overall, this data layer covers all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico and other assorted U.S. territories. This feature class contains all MEDS/MEDS+ as approved by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Homeland Security Infrastructure Program (HSIP) Team. Complete field and attribute information is available in the ”Entities and Attributes” metadata section. Geographical coverage is depicted in the thumbnail above and detailed in the "Place Keyword" section of the metadata. This feature class does not have a relationship class but is related to Supplemental Colleges. Colleges and Universities that are not included in the NCES IPEDS data are added to the Supplemental Colleges feature class when found. This release includes the addition of 175 new records, the removal of 468 no longer reported by NCES, and modifications to the spatial location and/or attribution of 6682 records.

In 2020, ** percent of high school graduates from families in the lowest income quartile in the United States enrolled in college. This was a decrease of *** percent from the previous year.

U.S. Higher Education Market size was valued at USD 101165.92 USD Million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 176174.98 USD Million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 7.18% during the forecast period 2024-2031.

U.S. Higher Education Market Drivers

The market drivers for the U.S. Higher Education Market can be influenced by various factors. These may include:

Demographics: Shifts in the population's composition and size of the college-age population have an impact on the demand for higher education.

Economic Conditions: A person's desire to pursue higher education and their capacity to pay for it are influenced by a number of economic factors, such as income levels, unemployment rates, and the general health of the economy.

Technological Innovations: These include online learning environments, virtual classrooms, and adaptive learning technologies, which have an impact on how higher education is delivered.

Government Funding and Policies: The higher education industry is greatly impacted by changes to government funding and policy, including financial aid programs and rules pertaining to student loans and accreditation.

Globalization: As more students from outside pursue higher education in the United States and American universities broaden their global reach, there is a corresponding increase in the demand for higher education.

job Market Trends: Higher education institutions' program offerings and enrollment trends are influenced by the job market's need for particular skills and credentials.

Competitive Landscape: Innovation and advancements in higher education offerings are fueled by competition among schools and universities, which includes rivalry for students, faculty, research funds, and rankings.

Social and Cultural Factors: The higher education market is shaped by shifting societal attitudes regarding education, cultural views of the value of higher education, and changing preferences for various educational experiences.

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.

Endowment returns for many universities skyrocketed early in the current period, largely fueled by booming private equity and hedge fund activity. In 2021, private nonprofit universities saw a staggering 684.0% jump in investment returns. In contrast, public universities, which typically hold smaller endowments invested more in US equities and fixed-income assets, experienced more modest gains. Meanwhile, inflation and rising interest rates in 2022 reversed the boom for private nonprofits, while public universities' endowments' focus on fixed-income assets stabilized their returns. Skyrocketing investment returns bolstered surpluses, but rising wage expenditures among expanding staff sizes have since brought down profit. Revenue has been sinking at a CAGR of 0.6% over the five years through 2025 to an estimated $610.9 billion despite an expected 1.7% rise in 2025 alone. Colleges and universities are contending with sluggish enrollment growth. Lackluster job placement rates and the highly publicized student debt crisis have made many potential students skeptical of a college degree's return on investment. With judicial reviews rendering the Biden administration's efforts to ease the burden of student debt unsuccessful, student loans remain a major deterrent for consumers. Many have instead opted for cheaper trade schools with reliable connections to employers. Community colleges' affordable prices are also making them a larger competitive threat to four-year universities. In response, universities are hiring capable staff and ramping up marketing campaigns to promote the value of their degree programs. Mounting automation will encourage many to enroll in a university to switch to a new field with more job security. Student loans will become more attractive as inflation stabilizes and the Federal Reserve continues to lower interest rates, encouraging traditional university enrollment. Still, the Trump administration's end to student debt forgiveness initiatives will lead to more price sensitivity among potential students, intensifying competition both between universities and with other cheaper options for postsecondary education. International students will remain a valuable revenue stream, especially as legislative changes in Canada promote higher education in the US with students from overseas. Revenue is set to swell at a CAGR of 0.6% to an estimated $636.0 billion through the end of 2030.

School enrollment, tertiary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) in United States was reported at 1.3196 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Ratio of female to male tertiary enrollment - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2021, there were ***** million undergraduate student enrolled in 4-year postsecondary institutions in the United States. By 2031, it is expected that there will be approximately ***** million students enrolled in 4-year postsecondary institutions across the U.S.

In 2021, about 20.6 percent of postsecondary students in the United States were Hispanic. This is a slight increase from 20.3 percent in the previous year. In that same year, White students made up more than half of postsecondary students, at 53.4 percent.