Children And Education

Decreasing


Change in College Enrollment

What does this measure?

The 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 2021, Lancaster County had a 6% decrease in college enrollment since 2002, enrolling nearly 21,200 students. This was lower than the statewide increase of 2% and national increase of 10%.

Among neighboring counties in 2021, Lebanon and York saw the largest decreases in enrollment of 38% and 43% respectively, while Dauphin was the only county to see increased enrollment since 2002 at 57%. Chester County had a slight decrease of 2% 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
20022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
PennsylvaniaN/A5%8%8%11%13%15%18%26%27%24%20%20%17%15%12%10%7%5%2%
Lancaster CountyN/A8%11%15%20%26%29%-9%-6%-4%-6%-3%-4%-4%-5%-4%-5%-4%-4%-6%
Berks CountyN/A10%19%25%28%30%32%39%39%40%37%31%25%22%19%17%13%9%-5%-10%
Chester CountyN/A-2%2%12%14%15%15%15%19%17%14%12%8%4%3%2%2%-0%-2%-2%
Cumberland CountyN/A2%5%5%6%7%7%8%11%13%13%8%4%5%5%3%-3%-5%-9%-11%
Dauphin CountyN/A8%14%19%22%23%24%100%126%130%121%114%105%109%107%113%118%111%71%57%
Lebanon CountyN/A3%3%2%3%4%2%-35%-34%-34%-35%-38%-35%-38%-39%-40%-37%-37%-36%-38%
York CountyN/A2%7%8%7%5%6%9%15%20%11%11%8%0%-9%-17%-25%-29%-39%-43%

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




Number of People Enrolled in Local Colleges
20022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Pennsylvania832,104872,949895,459897,859922,486941,825956,534978,6491,046,9781,055,5211,029,375998,982999,010976,541952,875933,499914,163886,725876,502845,244
Lancaster County22,47924,36324,89725,85627,08528,35729,08020,45721,07921,46921,22821,70021,48121,53521,35621,66621,37121,53121,53121,173
Berks County23,10125,36827,40728,85829,51830,08530,51932,12132,15632,44931,65430,26328,93428,13527,55227,03326,08325,26722,05020,761
Chester County28,60828,03629,13231,94832,66932,90832,93632,94434,11933,52732,70131,94230,83329,74529,40929,28529,06728,53128,08528,039
Cumberland County15,72416,04216,43416,53416,72016,85016,83817,02217,42817,82117,69817,01716,39716,51516,44816,20615,29914,99414,36213,945
Dauphin County18,59120,09721,18422,05422,75322,84123,12937,11741,92942,71641,00939,86638,11038,80138,51639,56640,47439,15531,76029,159
Lebanon County4,1034,2354,2064,1704,2424,2514,2032,6572,7082,7202,6812,5612,6622,5482,5232,4712,6042,5752,6112,551
York County11,63011,81312,44512,60512,40612,20712,35012,62213,36014,01012,95012,94512,53911,64310,5849,6548,7578,2357,0526,647

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




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