The National Student Clearinghouse reports that enrollments were down in Spring 2015.

REPORT: Current Term Enrollment Report – Spring 2015

Posted on May 13, 2015 Posted in Current Term Enrollment Estimates, Reports

Overview

In spring 2015, overall postsecondary enrollments decreased 1.9 percent from the previous spring. Figure 1shows the 12-month percentage change (fall-to-fall and spring-to-spring) for each term over the last three years. Enrollments decreased among four-year for-profit institutions (-4.9 percent), two-year public institutions (-3.9 percent), and four-year private non-profit institutions (-0.2 percent). Enrollments increased slightly among four-year public institutions (+0.1 percent). Taken as a whole, public sector enrollments (two-year and four-year combined) declined by 1.7 percent this spring.

Looking to the autumn, the private, not-for-profit sector is going to report a more significant drop, I predict.

Additionally, let me suggest that these declines are not merely cyclical.  Cost is a big piece of the problem.  Expansion by the public sector competition is another.