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?

In 2023, Lancaster County had a 12% decrease in college enrollment since 2002, enrolling over 19,800 students. This was higher than the statewide decrease of 3% and lower than the national increase of 8%.

Among neighboring counties in 2023, Lebanon, York and Cumberland saw the largest decreases in enrollment since 2002, of 41%, 29%, and 19%, respectively, while Dauphin and Berks were the only counties to see increased enrollment since 2002, at 62% and 1%, 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. Data for this indicator are released annually in November.

Change in College Enrollment
2002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
PennsylvaniaN/A5%8%8%11%13%15%18%26%27%24%20%20%17%15%12%10%7%5%2%-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%
Berks CountyN/A10%19%25%28%30%32%39%39%40%37%31%25%22%19%17%13%9%-5%-10%2%1%
Chester CountyN/A-2%2%12%14%15%15%15%19%17%14%12%8%4%3%2%2%-0%-2%-2%-2%-5%
Cumberland CountyN/A2%5%5%6%7%7%8%11%13%13%8%4%5%5%3%-3%-5%-9%-11%-14%-19%
Dauphin CountyN/A8%14%19%22%23%24%100%126%130%121%114%105%109%107%113%118%111%71%57%69%62%
Lebanon CountyN/A3%3%2%3%4%2%-35%-34%-34%-35%-38%-35%-38%-39%-40%-37%-37%-36%-38%-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%

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




Number of People Enrolled in Local Colleges
2002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Pennsylvania832,104872,949895,459897,859922,486941,825956,534978,6491,046,9781,055,5211,029,375998,982999,010976,541952,875933,499914,163886,725876,502845,244808,428808,083
Lancaster County22,47924,36324,89725,85627,08528,35729,08020,45721,07921,46921,22821,70021,48121,53521,35621,66621,37121,53121,53121,17320,47819,819
Berks County23,10125,36827,40728,85829,51830,08530,51932,12132,15632,44931,65430,26328,93428,13527,55227,03326,08325,26722,05020,76123,55323,276
Chester County28,60828,03629,13231,94832,66932,90832,93632,94434,11933,52732,70131,94230,83329,74529,40929,28529,06728,53128,08528,03927,92427,179
Cumberland County15,72416,04216,43416,53416,72016,85016,83817,02217,42817,82117,69817,01716,39716,51516,44816,20615,29914,99414,36213,94513,59712,810
Dauphin County18,59120,09721,18422,05422,75322,84123,12937,11741,92942,71641,00939,86638,11038,80138,51639,56640,47439,15531,76029,15931,41330,113
Lebanon County4,1034,2354,2064,1704,2424,2514,2032,6572,7082,7202,6812,5612,6622,5482,5232,4712,6042,5752,6112,5512,4162,435
York County11,63011,81312,44512,60512,40612,20712,35012,62213,36014,01012,95012,94512,53911,64310,5849,6548,7578,2357,0526,6476,7848,233

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