Children And Education

Decreasing


Change in College Enrollment

What does this measure?

The percent change since 2002 of people enrolled in a local postsecondary educational institution (college, university, community college).

Why is this important?

Higher education is associated with greater earnings and standard of living, and the rate of students pursuing further education also provides an indirect measure of the strength of the high schools.

How does our county compare?

Enrollment in Lancaster County local colleges decreased 8% from 2002 to 2024, with about 20,800 students enrolled. This was a larger decline than the statewide decrease of 3% and lower than the national increase of 11%.

Among neighboring counties in 2024, Lebanon, York and Cumberland saw larger enrollment decreases since 2002, of 41%, 40%, and 17%, respectively. Dauphin and Berks were the only counties to see increased enrollment since 2002, at 70% and 4%, respectively. Chester County had a slight decrease of 5% since 2002.

Notes about the data

This measure includes students attending vocational schools and 2- and 4-year colleges.

Change in College Enrollment
20022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
PennsylvaniaN/A5%8%8%11%13%15%18%26%27%24%20%20%17%15%12%10%7%5%2%-3%-3%-3%
Lancaster CountyN/A8%11%15%20%26%29%-9%-6%-4%-6%-3%-4%-4%-5%-4%-5%-4%-4%-6%-9%-12%-8%
Berks CountyN/A10%19%25%28%30%32%39%39%40%37%31%25%22%19%17%13%9%-5%-10%2%1%4%
Chester CountyN/A-2%2%12%14%15%15%15%19%17%14%12%8%4%3%2%2%-0%-2%-2%-2%-5%-5%
Cumberland CountyN/A2%5%5%6%7%7%8%11%13%13%8%4%5%5%3%-3%-5%-9%-11%-14%-19%-17%
Dauphin CountyN/A8%14%19%22%23%24%100%126%130%121%114%105%109%107%113%118%111%71%57%69%62%70%
Lebanon CountyN/A3%3%2%3%4%2%-35%-34%-34%-35%-38%-35%-38%-39%-40%-37%-37%-36%-38%-41%-41%-41%
York CountyN/A2%7%8%7%5%6%9%15%20%11%11%8%0%-9%-17%-25%-29%-39%-43%-42%-29%-40%

Source: Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
Notes: Rate is percentage change since 2002.




Number of People Enrolled in Local Colleges
20022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Pennsylvania832,104872,949895,459897,859922,486941,825956,534978,6491,046,9781,055,5211,029,375998,982999,010976,541952,875933,499914,163886,725876,502845,244808,428808,083805,614
Lancaster County22,47924,36324,89725,85627,08528,35729,08020,45721,07921,46921,22821,70021,48121,53521,35621,66621,37121,53121,53121,17320,47819,81920,791
Berks County23,10125,36827,40728,85829,51830,08530,51932,12132,15632,44931,65430,26328,93428,13527,55227,03326,08325,26722,05020,76123,55323,27623,923
Chester County28,60828,03629,13231,94832,66932,90832,93632,94434,11933,52732,70131,94230,83329,74529,40929,28529,06728,53128,08528,03927,92427,17927,172
Cumberland County15,72416,04216,43416,53416,72016,85016,83817,02217,42817,82117,69817,01716,39716,51516,44816,20615,29914,99414,36213,94513,59712,81013,032
Dauphin County18,59120,09721,18422,05422,75322,84123,12937,11741,92942,71641,00939,86638,11038,80138,51639,56640,47439,15531,76029,15931,41330,11331,614
Lebanon County4,1034,2354,2064,1704,2424,2514,2032,6572,7082,7202,6812,5612,6622,5482,5232,4712,6042,5752,6112,5512,4162,4352,424
York County11,63011,81312,44512,60512,40612,20712,35012,62213,36014,01012,95012,94512,53911,64310,5849,6548,7578,2357,0526,6476,7848,2337,033

Source: Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
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