Higher education enrollment statistics

Higher education
Enrollment statistics
Tuition statistics
Financial aid statistics
Retention rates
Graduation rates
Higher education funding

This article is currently outside of Ballotpedia's coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates. If you would like to help our coverage scope grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia.

Between fiscal years 2008 and 2014, full-time student enrollment in the nation's public postsecondary institutions increased by just under 1,000,000 students, or about 8.6 percent. However, between fiscal years 2013 and 2014, enrollment declined by 1.3 percent. According to the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, college enrollment typically rises during economic downturns and declines as the economy improves.

Between 2008 and 2014, full-time student enrollment in public higher education institutions decreased in only one state: Illinois. Between 2013 and 2014, enrollment declined in 42 of the 50 states. See the table below for additional state-specific information.

Enrollment figures by state

2014

Full-time enrollment in public postsecondary institutions, FY 2008 to FY 2014
State	FY 2008 (pre-recession)	FY 2009	FY 2012	FY 2013	FY 2014	1-year change	5-year change	Change since recession
Alabama	187,086	199,153	206,364	197,110	195,693	-0.7%	-1.7%	4.6%
Alaska	18,703	19,010	21,654	21,131	20,464	-3.2%	7.6%	9.4%
Arizona	233,255	245,680	275,238	270,644	269,902	-0.3%	9.9%	15.7%
Arkansas	107,428	108,474	125,981	122,431	119,608	-2.3%	10.3%	11.3%
California	1,507,467	1,624,753	1,527,259	1,479,181	1,511,300	2.2%	-7.0%	0.3%
Colorado	164,638	171,564	192,541	188,405	184,836	-1.9%	7.7%	12.3%
Connecticut	77,088	80,433	85,683	87,810	88,681	1.0%	10.3%	15.0%
Delaware	31,619	32,417	34,672	34,715	35,657	2.7%	10.0%	12.8%
Florida	540,823	564,963	641,464	619,195	608,221	-1.8%	7.7%	12.5%
Georgia	310,759	330,866	379,004	354,989	347,733	-2.0%	5.1%	11.9%
Hawaii	35,469	37,070	40,612	41,088	40,417	-1.6%	9.0%	14.0%
Idaho	43,968	44,705	58,980	57,837	56,177	-2.9%	25.7%	27.8%
Illinois	391,386	397,018	422,261	375,190	326,329	-13.0%	-17.8%	-16.6%
Indiana	230,323	239,827	257,214	252,848	249,019	-1.5%	3.8%	8.1%
Iowa	115,011	117,254	132,423	129,669	127,407	-1.7%	8.7%	10.8%
Kansas	127,117	129,377	142,967	140,182	138,310	-1.3%	6.9%	8.8%
Kentucky	142,382	144,641	159,306	155,586	154,788	-0.5%	7.0%	8.7%
Louisiana	165,781	169,602	181,589	174,552	168,001	-3.8%	-0.9%	1.3%
Maine	35,533	35,968	37,897	37,342	36,577	-2.0%	1.7%	2.9%
Maryland	207,255	231,079	243,028	238,886	232,684	-2.6%	0.7%	12.3%
Massachusetts	148,288	155,387	170,221	171,974	172,574	0.3%	11.1%	16.4%
Michigan	395,019	409,270	423,789	411,773	399,953	-2.9%	-2.3%	1.2%
Minnesota	196,014	200,732	214,055	210,546	204,046	-3.1%	1.7%	4.1%
Mississippi	117,556	118,572	139,853	133,732	131,104	-2.0%	10.6%	11.5%
Missouri	164,160	177,751	196,360	196,659	196,831	0.1%	10.7%	19.9%
Montana	35,556	36,388	40,847	40,169	39,484	-1.7%	8.5%	11.0%
Nebraska	75,451	77,825	83,861	81,175	79,704	-1.8%	2.4%	5.6%
Nevada	63,324	65,665	65,238	65,917	64,497	-2.2%	-1.8%	1.9%
New Hampshire	32,982	34,311	39,099	39,224	36,988	-5.7%	7.8%	12.1%
New Jersey	238,040	246,215	278,868	276,052	274,341	-0.6%	11.4%	15.2%
New Mexico	85,203	89,450	97,742	101,239	98,630	-2.6%	10.3%	15.8%
New York	526,538	547,845	583,025	571,801	565,830	-1.0%	3.3%	7.5%
North Carolina	357,601	385,792	412,349	410,622	402,199	-2.1%	4.3%	12.5%
North Dakota	34,955	36,408	37,503	37,122	36,927	-0.5%	1.4%	5.6%
Ohio	375,932	391,546	423,509	400,796	401,874	0.3%	2.6%	6.9%
Oklahoma	131,191	127,058	146,518	144,138	145,401	0.9%	14.4%	10.8%
Oregon	129,626	141,532	169,806	165,564	165,480	-0.1%	16.9%	27.7%
Pennsylvania	343,043	353,494	369,046	364,468	358,820	-1.5%	1.5%	4.6%
Rhode Island	30,120	30,774	31,729	31,701	31,309	-1.2%	1.7%	3.9%
South Carolina	150,333	158,252	175,236	175,321	172,049	-1.9%	8.7%	14.4%
South Dakota	29,595	31,027	33,540	32,945	33,677	2.2%	8.5%	13.8%
Tennessee	173,706	178,100	203,597	196,097	190,485	-2.9%	7.0%	9.7%
Texas	804,918	822,131	993,964	1,002,892	994,745	-0.8%	21.0%	23.6%
Utah	103,320	107,649	126,594	123,851	119,692	-3.4%	11.2%	15.8%
Vermont	19,797	20,654	21,765	21,319	20,955	-1.7%	1.5%	5.8%
Virginia	281,940	294,436	325,517	320,481	318,166	-0.7%	8.1%	12.8%
Washington	221,264	236,742	253,902	248,273	245,011	-1.3%	3.5%	10.7%
West Virginia	73,525	74,864	80,193	78,458	76,202	-2.9%	1.8%	3.6%
Wisconsin	219,006	224,113	233,284	229,463	223,777	-2.5%	-0.1%	2.2%
Wyoming	23,054	23,628	26,174	25,669	24,986	-2.7%	5.7%	8.4%
United States	10,254,148	10,721,466	11,563,321	11,288,232	11,137,541	-1.3%	3.9%	8.6%
Note: Full-time enrollment excludes medical students. Source: State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, "State Higher Education Finance: FY 2014"

2013

Click [show] on the green bar to view college enrollment data for 2013.

Full-time student enrollment in public postsecondary institutions, FY 2008 to FY 2013
State	FY 2008	FY 2012	FY 2013	Change from FY 2012 to FY 2013	Percent change from FY 2012 to FY 2013	Change from FY 2008 to FY 2013	Percent change from FY 2008 to FY 2013
Alabama	187,086	206,364	200,321	-6,043	-2.90%	13,235	7.10%
Alaska	18,703	21,654	21,131	-523	-2.40%	2,428	13.00%
Arizona	233,255	275,238	270,644	-4,594	-1.70%	37,389	16.00%
Arkansas	107,428	125,981	122,418	-3,563	-2.80%	14,990	14.00%
California	1,507,467	1,527,259	1,478,928	-48,331	-3.20%	-28,539	-1.90%
Colorado	164,638	192,541	188,405	-4,136	-2.10%	23,767	14.40%
Connecticut	77,088	85,683	87,810	2,127	2.50%	10,722	13.90%
Delaware	31,619	34,672	34,715	43	0.10%	3,096	9.80%
Florida	540,823	641,464	619,195	-22,269	-3.50%	78,372	14.50%
Georgia	310,759	379,004	354,989	-24,015	-6.30%	44,230	14.20%
Hawaii	35,469	40,612	41,088	476	1.20%	5,619	15.80%
Idaho	43,968	58,980	57,837	-1,143	-1.90%	13,869	31.50%
Illinois	391,386	422,261	375,190	-47,071	-11.10%	-16,196	-4.10%
Indiana	230,323	257,214	252,848	-4,366	-1.70%	22,525	9.80%
Iowa	115,011	132,423	129,669	-2,754	-2.10%	14,658	12.70%
Kansas	127,117	142,967	140,182	-2,785	-1.90%	13,065	10.30%
Kentucky	142,382	159,306	155,586	-3,720	-2.30%	13,204	9.30%
Louisiana	165,781	181,589	174,552	-7,037	-3.90%	8,771	5.30%
Maine	35,533	37,897	37,342	-555	-1.50%	1,809	5.10%
Maryland	207,255	243,028	240,766	-2,262	-0.90%	33,511	16.20%
Massachusetts	148,288	170,221	171,974	1,753	1.00%	23,686	16.00%
Michigan	395,019	423,789	411,773	-12,016	-2.80%	16,754	4.20%
Minnesota	196,014	214,055	210,546	-3,509	-1.60%	14,532	7.40%
Mississippi	117,556	139,853	133,501	-6,352	-4.50%	15,945	13.60%
Missouri	164,160	196,360	195,089	-1,271	-0.60%	30,929	18.80%
Montana	35,556	40,847	40,169	-678	-1.70%	4,613	13.00%
Nebraska	75,451	83,861	81,175	-2,686	-3.20%	5,724	7.60%
Nevada	63,324	65,238	65,917	679	1.00%	2,593	4.10%
New Hampshire	32,982	39,099	38,834	-265	-0.70%	5,852	17.70%
New Jersey	238,040	278,868	276,052	-2,816	-1.00%	38,012	16.00%
New Mexico	85,203	97,742	101,239	3,497	3.60%	16,036	18.80%
New York	526,538	583,025	578,144	-4,881	-0.80%	51,606	9.80%
North Carolina	357,601	412,349	410,622	-1,727	-0.40%	53,021	14.80%
North Dakota	34,955	37,503	37,108	-395	-1.10%	2,153	6.20%
Ohio	375,932	423,509	400,796	-22,713	-5.40%	24,864	6.60%
Oklahoma	131,191	146,518	144,138	-2,380	-1.60%	12,947	9.90%
Oregon	129,626	169,806	165,564	-4,242	-2.50%	35,938	27.70%
Pennsylvania	343,043	369,046	364,468	-4,578	-1.20%	21,425	6.20%
Rhode Island	30,120	31,729	31,701	-28	-0.10%	1,581	5.20%
South Carolina	150,333	175,236	175,321	85	0.00%	24,988	16.60%
South Dakota	29,595	33,540	32,945	-595	-1.80%	3,350	11.30%
Tennessee	173,706	203,597	196,097	-7,500	-3.70%	22,391	12.90%
Texas	804,918	993,964	987,506	-6,458	-0.60%	182,588	22.70%
Utah	103,320	126,594	123,851	-2,743	-2.20%	20,531	19.90%
Vermont	19,797	21,765	21,319	-446	-2.00%	1,522	7.70%
Virginia	281,940	325,517	320,481	-5,036	-1.50%	38,541	13.70%
Washington	221,264	253,902	248,273	-5,629	-2.20%	27,009	12.20%
West Virginia	73,525	80,193	78,458	-1,735	-2.20%	4,933	6.70%
Wisconsin	219,006	233,284	229,463	-3,821	-1.60%	10,457	4.80%
Wyoming	23,054	26,174	25,669	-505	-1.90%	2,615	11.30%
U.S.	10,254,148	11,563,321	11,281,810	-281,511	-2.40%	1,027,662	10.00%
Note: The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association writes that full-time equivalent enrollment "equates student credit hours to full-time, academic year students, but excludes medical students." Source: State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, "State Higher Education Finance: FY 2013"

Demographics

Enrollment by race

2013

In 2013, approximately 57 percent of the nation's postsecondary students (including those attending both two-year and four-year public and private schools) were white. Hispanic students accounted for 15.2 percent of the total student population, followed closely by black students at 14.1 percent. Other racial and ethnic groups comprised the remainder. During that time, 59.3 percent of the nation's general population was white, 15.8 percent was Hispanic and 14.7 percent was black, with other groups making up the remainder. The table below provides demographic information for both the postsecondary student and general populations by state in 2013.

Higher education enrollment by race/ethnicity, 2013
State	Population category	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	Pacific Islander	American Indian/Alaska Native	Two or more races	Non-resident alien
Alabama	Postsecondary students	61.6%	29.3%	2.8%	1.7%	0.1%	0.7%	1.5%	2.2%
	General population	63.0%	30.0%	2.9%	1.8%	0.1%	0.7%	1.5%	N/A
Alaska	Postsecondary students	61.8%	3.2%	8.3%	4.6%	1.1%	11.7%	7.5%	1.9%
	General population	63.0%	3.2%	8.5%	4.7%	1.1%	11.9%	7.6%	N/A
Arizona	Postsecondary students	53.4%	15.2%	19.8%	3.3%	0.5%	2.4%	2.6%	2.7%
	General population	54.9%	15.7%	20.3%	3.3%	0.6%	2.5%	2.7%	N/A
Arkansas	Postsecondary students	69.4%	17.8%	4.7%	1.6%	0.1%	0.9%	2.6%	3.0%
	General population	71.5%	18.3%	4.9%	1.6%	0.1%	0.9%	2.7%	N/A
California	Postsecondary students	32.3%	7.0%	36.1%	15.3%	0.6%	0.4%	4.2%	4.2%
	General population	33.7%	7.3%	37.6%	16.0%	0.6%	0.5%	4.3%	N/A
Colorado	Postsecondary students	66.6%	7.5%	14.9%	3.3%	0.3%	1.0%	3.6%	2.9%
	General population	68.5%	7.7%	15.3%	3.4%	0.3%	1.1%	3.7%	N/A
Connecticut	Postsecondary students	62.6%	12.5%	13.2%	4.8%	0.1%	0.3%	2.2%	4.4%
	General population	65.5%	13.1%	13.8%	5.0%	0.1%	0.3%	2.3%	N/A
Delaware	Postsecondary students	59.1%	21.7%	5.9%	3.3%	0.2%	0.4%	2.0%	7.3%
	General population	63.8%	23.4%	6.4%	3.6%	0.2%	0.5%	2.2%	N/A
Florida	Postsecondary students	47.0%	19.7%	23.8%	3.1%	0.2%	0.4%	2.5%	3.3%
	General population	48.6%	20.4%	24.6%	3.2%	0.2%	0.4%	2.6%	N/A
Georgia	Postsecondary students	50.5%	33.6%	5.6%	4.4%	0.1%	0.3%	2.2%	3.3%
	General population	52.2%	34.7%	5.8%	4.5%	0.1%	0.3%	2.2%	N/A
Hawaii	Postsecondary students	18.6%	2.2%	9.7%	30.9%	8.3%	0.3%	24.1%	5.9%
	General population	19.8%	2.4%	10.3%	32.9%	8.8%	0.3%	25.6%	N/A
Idaho	Postsecondary students	79.5%	1.3%	8.8%	1.5%	0.6%	0.9%	3.2%	4.2%
	General population	83.0%	1.3%	9.2%	1.5%	0.7%	1.0%	3.3%	N/A
Illinois	Postsecondary students	57.2%	14.7%	15.4%	5.9%	0.2%	0.3%	2.1%	4.1%
	General population	59.7%	15.4%	16.1%	6.2%	0.2%	0.3%	2.2%	N/A
Indiana	Postsecondary students	73.9%	10.5%	5.0%	2.3%	0.1%	0.3%	2.4%	5.5%
	General population	78.2%	11.1%	5.3%	2.5%	0.1%	0.3%	2.6%	N/A
Iowa	Postsecondary students	70.4%	15.0%	6.5%	2.1%	0.3%	0.7%	1.7%	3.3%
	General population	72.8%	15.6%	6.7%	2.2%	0.3%	0.7%	1.7%	N/A
Kansas	Postsecondary students	71.6%	7.6%	8.0%	2.6%	0.2%	1.3%	2.7%	6.0%
	General population	76.2%	8.1%	8.5%	2.8%	0.2%	1.4%	2.8%	N/A
Kentucky	Postsecondary students	81.4%	9.9%	2.5%	1.4%	0.1%	0.3%	2.1%	2.3%
	General population	83.3%	10.1%	2.6%	1.4%	0.1%	0.3%	2.1%	N/A
Louisiana	Postsecondary students	56.5%	31.4%	4.4%	2.3%	0.1%	0.6%	2.0%	2.8%
	General population	58.1%	32.3%	4.5%	2.4%	0.1%	0.6%	2.0%	N/A
Maine	Postsecondary students	87.3%	3.0%	2.4%	2.1%	0.1%	1.1%	2.0%	2.1%
	General population	89.1%	3.0%	2.5%	2.1%	0.1%	1.1%	2.1%	N/A
Maryland	Postsecondary students	49.4%	28.6%	7.1%	6.8%	0.2%	0.3%	3.0%	4.7%
	General population	51.8%	30.0%	7.4%	7.1%	0.2%	0.3%	3.2%	N/A
Massachusetts	Postsecondary students	62.2%	8.7%	9.9%	7.4%	0.1%	0.2%	2.5%	9.0%
	General population	68.3%	9.5%	10.9%	8.1%	0.1%	0.3%	2.8%	N/A
Michigan	Postsecondary students	70.9%	13.9%	3.8%	3.5%	0.1%	0.7%	2.4%	4.7%
	General population	74.4%	14.6%	4.0%	3.7%	0.1%	0.7%	2.5%	N/A
Minnesota	Postsecondary students	69.7%	14.0%	4.5%	4.7%	0.1%	0.8%	3.0%	3.1%
	General population	72.0%	14.4%	4.6%	4.8%	0.1%	0.8%	3.1%	N/A
Mississippi	Postsecondary students	55.3%	38.8%	1.8%	1.1%	0.1%	0.4%	1.1%	1.4%
	General population	56.0%	39.3%	1.8%	1.2%	0.1%	0.4%	1.1%	N/A
Missouri	Postsecondary students	72.2%	14.5%	4.0%	2.7%	0.2%	0.5%	2.2%	3.8%
	General population	75.0%	15.0%	4.2%	2.8%	0.2%	0.6%	2.3%	N/A
Montana	Postsecondary students	81.6%	0.8%	3.2%	1.3%	0.2%	7.3%	2.6%	3.1%
	General population	84.2%	0.9%	3.3%	1.3%	0.2%	7.5%	2.6%	N/A
Nebraska	Postsecondary students	78.4%	5.9%	7.1%	2.6%	0.2%	0.8%	1.8%	3.3%
	General population	81.1%	6.1%	7.3%	2.6%	0.2%	0.8%	1.9%	N/A
Nevada	Postsecondary students	50.0%	8.2%	22.3%	10.1%	1.5%	0.9%	5.1%	1.9%
	General population	51.0%	8.4%	22.7%	10.3%	1.5%	0.9%	5.2%	N/A
New Hampshire	Postsecondary students	81.0%	6.5%	4.2%	2.9%	0.1%	0.7%	1.3%	3.2%
	General population	83.7%	6.7%	4.4%	3.0%	0.1%	0.7%	1.4%	N/A
New Jersey	Postsecondary students	51.3%	14.9%	18.9%	8.5%	0.3%	0.3%	1.8%	4.0%
	General population	53.5%	15.5%	19.7%	8.8%	0.4%	0.3%	1.9%	N/A
New Mexico	Postsecondary students	35.5%	3.1%	45.0%	1.7%	0.2%	9.7%	1.9%	3.0%
	General population	36.6%	3.2%	46.4%	1.7%	0.2%	9.9%	1.9%	N/A
New York	Postsecondary students	52.1%	13.9%	15.6%	8.8%	0.2%	0.4%	1.8%	7.3%
	General population	56.2%	15.0%	16.8%	9.5%	0.3%	0.4%	1.9%	N/A
North Carolina	Postsecondary students	60.1%	25.2%	5.6%	2.8%	0.1%	1.2%	2.1%	2.9%
	General population	61.8%	25.9%	5.8%	2.9%	0.2%	1.2%	2.2%	N/A
North Dakota	Postsecondary students	81.1%	3.0%	2.6%	1.2%	0.1%	4.6%	2.0%	5.4%
	General population	85.8%	3.2%	2.7%	1.2%	0.1%	4.9%	2.1%	N/A
Ohio	Postsecondary students	74.7%	12.9%	3.2%	2.3%	0.1%	0.3%	2.3%	4.2%
	General population	78.0%	13.5%	3.3%	2.4%	0.1%	0.3%	2.4%	N/A
Oklahoma	Postsecondary students	61.8%	9.7%	6.7%	2.6%	0.2%	8.4%	5.9%	4.7%
	General population	64.9%	10.1%	7.0%	2.7%	0.2%	8.9%	6.2%	N/A
Oregon	Postsecondary students	70.6%	3.2%	10.0%	5.3%	0.6%	1.4%	4.3%	4.6%
	General population	74.0%	3.3%	10.5%	5.5%	0.7%	1.4%	4.5%	N/A
Pennsylvania	Postsecondary students	70.2%	11.6%	6.0%	4.7%	0.1%	0.2%	2.1%	5.0%
	General population	73.9%	12.2%	6.3%	4.9%	0.1%	0.2%	2.2%	N/A
Rhode Island	Postsecondary students	68.4%	6.9%	11.4%	4.3%	0.1%	0.4%	2.8%	5.7%
	General population	72.6%	7.3%	12.1%	4.6%	0.1%	0.4%	3.0%	N/A
South Carolina	Postsecondary students	62.5%	28.0%	3.5%	1.5%	0.1%	0.4%	2.2%	1.8%
	General population	63.7%	28.5%	3.6%	1.5%	0.1%	0.4%	2.2%	N/A
South Dakota	Postsecondary students	81.8%	3.5%	2.7%	1.1%	0.2%	5.9%	2.2%	2.6%
	General population	84.0%	3.6%	2.8%	1.1%	0.2%	6.1%	2.2%	N/A
Tennessee	Postsecondary students	69.2%	20.4%	3.3%	2.1%	0.1%	0.3%	2.3%	2.4%
	General population	70.8%	20.9%	3.4%	2.1%	0.1%	0.3%	2.4%	N/A
Texas	Postsecondary students	40.6%	13.6%	34.0%	5.4%	0.2%	0.4%	2.0%	3.8%
	General population	42.2%	14.1%	35.4%	5.6%	0.2%	0.4%	2.1%	N/A
Utah	Postsecondary students	77.8%	3.5%	8.9%	2.7%	0.7%	0.9%	2.4%	3.0%
	General population	80.2%	3.6%	9.2%	2.8%	0.8%	1.0%	2.5%	N/A
Vermont	Postsecondary students	84.6%	2.6%	4.2%	2.4%	0.1%	0.6%	2.6%	2.9%
	General population	87.1%	2.7%	4.3%	2.5%	0.2%	0.6%	2.7%	N/A
Virginia	Postsecondary students	58.7%	22.2%	6.7%	5.7%	0.3%	0.4%	3.2%	2.8%
	General population	60.4%	22.9%	6.9%	5.8%	0.3%	0.4%	3.3%	N/A
Washington	Postsecondary students	63.4%	4.5%	10.1%	8.9%	0.6%	1.2%	5.8%	5.6%
	General population	67.2%	4.8%	10.7%	9.4%	0.6%	1.3%	6.1%	N/A
West Virginia	Postsecondary students	75.3%	12.6%	5.1%	1.6%	0.4%	0.5%	2.3%	2.2%
	General population	77.0%	12.9%	5.2%	1.6%	0.4%	0.5%	2.4%	N/A
Wisconsin	Postsecondary students	78.7%	6.6%	5.2%	3.3%	0.1%	0.9%	2.0%	3.1%
	General population	81.2%	6.8%	5.4%	3.4%	0.1%	0.9%	2.1%	N/A
Wyoming	Postsecondary students	83.7%	1.4%	7.6%	0.9%	0.3%	1.7%	1.6%	2.7%
	General population	86.1%	1.5%	7.8%	0.9%	0.3%	1.7%	1.7%	N/A
United States	Postsecondary students	56.9%	14.1%	15.2%	5.9%	0.3%	0.8%	2.7%	4.1%
	General population	59.3%	14.7%	15.8%	6.1%	0.3%	0.8%	2.9%	N/A
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 306.60. Fall enrollment in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by race/ethnicity of student and state or jurisdiction: 2013"

2012

In 2012, approximately 58 percent of the nation's postsecondary students (including those attending both two-year and four-year public and private schools) were white. Hispanic students accounted for 14.43 percent of the total student population, followed closely by black students at 14.35 percent. Other racial and ethnic groups comprised the remainder. During that time, 60.3 percent of the nation's general population was white, 15 percent was Hispanic, and 14.9 percent was black, with other groups making up the remainder. Click [show] on the green bar below to view demographic information for both the postsecondary student and general populations by state in 2012.

Higher education enrollment by race/ethnicity, 2012
State	Population category	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	Pacific Islander	American Indian/Alaska Native	Two or more races	Non-resident alien
Alabama	Postsecondary students	61.76%	29.84%	2.65%	1.65%	0.09%	0.75%	1.16%	2.09%
	General population	63.1%	30.5%	2.7%	1.7%	0.1%	0.8%	1.2%	N/A
Alaska	Postsecondary students	62.76%	3.38%	7.58%	4.75%	0.80%	11.21%	7.34%	2.18%
	General population	64.2%	3.5%	7.7%	4.9%	0.8%	11.5%	7.5%	N/A
Arizona	Postsecondary students	54.81%	15.66%	18.41%	3.07%	0.54%	2.61%	2.48%	2.41%
	General population	56.2%	16%	18.9%	3.1%	0.6%	2.7%	2.5%	N/A
Arkansas	Postsecondary students	69.63%	18.53%	4.29%	1.55%	0.10%	0.88%	2.25%	2.77%
	General population	71.6%	19.1%	4.4%	1.6%	0.1%	0.9%	2.3%	N/A
California	Postsecondary students	33.97%	7.16%	34.56%	15.59%	0.62%	0.49%	3.80%	3.81%
	General population	35.3%	7.4%	35.9%	16.2%	0.6%	0.5%	4%	N/A
Colorado	Postsecondary students	67.36%	7.62%	14.68%	3.31%	0.26%	1.07%	3.20%	2.51%
	General population	69.1%	7.8%	15.1%	3.4%	0.3%	1.1%	3.3%	N/A
Connecticut	Postsecondary students	63.76%	12.51%	12.58%	4.64%	0.13%	0.29%	2.01%	4.08%
	General population	66.5%	13%	13.1%	4.8%	0.1%	0.3%	2.1%	N/A
Delaware	Postsecondary students	61.20%	21.83%	5.69%	3.72%	0.12%	0.33%	2.07%	5.04%
	General population	64.4%	23%	6%	3.9%	0.1%	0.3%	2.2%	N/A
District of Columbia	Postsecondary students	47.72%	26.82%	7.01%	6.57%	0.19%	0.47%	2.13%	9.08%
	General population	52.5%	29.5%	7.7%	7.2%	0.2%	0.5%	2.3%	N/A
Florida	Postsecondary students	48.03%	20.01%	23.14%	3.12%	0.21%	0.41%	2.29%	2.80%
	General population	49.4%	20.6%	23.8%	3.2%	0.2%	0.4%	2.4%	N/A
Georgia	Postsecondary students	51.00%	34.12%	5.27%	4.20%	0.15%	0.32%	1.95%	3.00%
	General population	52.6%	35.2%	5.4%	4.3%	0.2%	0.3%	2%	N/A
Hawaii	Postsecondary students	19.25%	2.24%	9.69%	31.24%	8.84%	0.34%	22.34%	6.06%
	General population	20.5%	2.4%	10.3%	33.3%	9.4%	0.4%	23.8%	N/A
Idaho	Postsecondary students	81.87%	1.19%	8.91%	1.62%	0.71%	1.17%	1.46%	3.06%
	General population	84.5%	1.2%	9.2%	1.7%	0.7%	1.2%	1.5%	N/A
Illinois	Postsecondary students	58.48%	15.22%	14.50%	5.71%	0.24%	0.30%	1.81%	3.74%
	General population	60.8%	15.8%	15.1%	5.9%	0.3%	0.3%	1.9%	N/A
Indiana	Postsecondary students	74.99%	10.71%	4.79%	2.19%	0.07%	0.31%	1.91%	5.02%
	General population	79%	11.3%	5%	2.3%	0.1%	0.3%	2%	N/A
Iowa	Postsecondary students	70.80%	15.35%	6.18%	1.99%	0.31%	0.77%	1.53%	3.07%
	General population	73%	15.8%	6.4%	2.1%	0.3%	0.8%	1.6%	N/A
Kansas	Postsecondary students	72.60%	7.58%	7.33%	2.48%	0.15%	1.37%	2.42%	6.06%
	General population	77.3%	8.1%	7.8%	2.6%	0.2%	1.5%	2.6%	N/A
Kentucky	Postsecondary students	81.97%	10.06%	2.35%	1.37%	0.11%	0.29%	1.79%	2.05%
	General population	83.7%	10.3%	2.4%	1.4%	0.1%	0.3%	1.8%	N/A
Louisiana	Postsecondary students	56.91%	31.76%	4.23%	2.26%	0.09%	0.58%	1.60%	2.57%
	General population	58.4%	32.6%	4.3%	2.3%	0.1%	0.6%	1.6%	N/A
Maine	Postsecondary students	88.20%	2.77%	2.13%	1.91%	0.28%	1.10%	1.75%	1.85%
	General population	89.9%	2.8%	2.2%	1.9%	0.3%	1.1%	1.8%	N/A
Maryland	Postsecondary students	50.42%	28.89%	6.51%	6.49%	0.20%	0.31%	2.54%	4.64%
	General population	52.9%	30.3%	6.8%	6.8%	0.2%	0.3%	2.7%	N/A
Massachusetts	Postsecondary students	63.57%	8.58%	9.38%	7.26%	0.10%	0.25%	2.50%	8.35%
	General population	69.4%	9.4%	10.2%	7.9%	0.1%	0.3%	2.7%	N/A
Michigan	Postsecondary students	71.22%	14.74%	3.55%	3.36%	0.13%	0.72%	2.05%	4.23%
	General population	74.4%	15.4%	3.7%	3.5%	0.1%	0.7%	2.1%	N/A
Minnesota	Postsecondary students	70.71%	13.96%	4.18%	4.41%	0.14%	0.86%	2.81%	2.93%
	General population	72.8%	14.4%	4.3%	4.5%	0.1%	0.9%	2.9%	N/A
Mississippi	Postsecondary students	55.22%	39.44%	1.61%	1.07%	0.08%	0.42%	0.82%	1.33%
	General population	56%	40%	1.6%	1.1%	0.1%	0.4%	0.8%	N/A
Missouri	Postsecondary students	73.01%	14.26%	3.88%	2.63%	0.17%	0.56%	2.03%	3.45%
	General population	75.6%	14.8%	4%	2.7%	0.2%	0.6%	2.1%	N/A
Montana	Postsecondary students	81.61%	0.77%	3.05%	1.24%	0.19%	8.17%	2.20%	2.78%
	General population	83.9%	0.8%	3.1%	1.3%	0.2%	8.4%	2.3%	N/A
Nebraska	Postsecondary students	79.76%	5.85%	6.39%	2.47%	0.18%	0.83%	1.38%	3.13%
	General population	82.3%	6%	6.6%	2.5%	0.2%	0.9%	1.4%	N/A
Nevada	Postsecondary students	51.68%	8.50%	20.83%	9.87%	1.53%	1.01%	4.63%	1.97%
	General population	52.7%	8.7%	21.2%	10.1%	1.6%	1%	4.7%	N/A
New Hampshire	Postsecondary students	82.11%	4.03%	5.14%	3.29%	0.09%	0.57%	1.43%	3.34%
	General population	84.9%	4.2%	5.3%	3.4%	0.1%	0.6%	1.5%	N/A
New Jersey	Postsecondary students	52.61%	14.62%	18.14%	8.35%	0.40%	0.38%	1.65%	3.86%
	General population	54.7%	15.2%	18.9%	8.7%	0.4%	0.4%	1.7%	N/A
New Mexico	Postsecondary students	36.53%	3.07%	44.66%	1.64%	0.26%	9.25%	1.77%	2.81%
	General population	37.6%	3.2%	46%	1.7%	0.3%	9.5%	1.8%	N/A
New York	Postsecondary students	53.63%	13.97%	14.77%	8.66%	0.21%	0.36%	1.60%	6.78%
	General population	57.5%	15%	15.8%	9.3%	0.2%	0.4%	1.7%	N/A
North Carolina	Postsecondary students	60.71%	25.65%	5.02%	2.69%	0.13%	1.19%	1.71%	2.89%
	General population	62.5%	26.4%	5.2%	2.8%	0.1%	1.2%	1.8%	N/A
North Dakota	Postsecondary students	81.74%	2.81%	2.34%	1.18%	0.14%	4.66%	1.72%	5.40%
	General population	86.4%	3%	2.5%	1.3%	0.1%	4.9%	1.8%	N/A
Ohio	Postsecondary students	75.07%	13.67%	3.06%	2.16%	0.08%	0.35%	1.82%	3.80%
	General population	78%	14.2%	3.2%	2.2%	0.1%	0.4%	1.9%	N/A
Oklahoma	Postsecondary students	63.11%	10.17%	6.04%	2.47%	0.16%	8.67%	5.29%	4.09%
	General population	65.8%	10.6%	6.3%	2.6%	0.2%	9%	5.5%	N/A
Oregon	Postsecondary students	72.61%	3.11%	9.20%	5.22%	0.68%	1.44%	3.72%	4.03%
	General population	75.7%	3.2%	9.6%	5.4%	0.7%	1.5%	3.9%	N/A
Pennsylvania	Postsecondary students	71.74%	11.69%	5.44%	4.47%	0.13%	0.26%	1.81%	4.46%
	General population	75.1%	12.2%	5.7%	4.7%	0.1%	0.3%	1.9%	N/A
Rhode Island	Postsecondary students	70.31%	6.89%	10.55%	4.23%	0.07%	0.39%	2.06%	5.49%
	General population	74.4%	7.3%	11.2%	4.5%	0.1%	0.4%	2.2%	N/A
South Carolina	Postsecondary students	62.64%	28.47%	3.21%	1.53%	0.13%	0.41%	1.82%	1.79%
	General population	63.8%	29%	3.3%	1.6%	0.1%	0.4%	1.9%	N/A
South Dakota	Postsecondary students	82.31%	3.31%	2.41%	0.95%	0.17%	6.26%	2.10%	2.50%
	General population	84.4%	3.4%	2.5%	1%	0.2%	6.4%	2.2%	N/A
Tennessee	Postsecondary students	69.64%	20.47%	3.14%	1.96%	0.08%	0.32%	2.18%	2.21%
	General population	71.2%	20.9%	3.2%	2%	0.1%	0.3%	2.2%	N/A
Texas	Postsecondary students	41.82%	13.74%	33.13%	5.20%	0.16%	0.44%	1.82%	3.68%
	General population	43.4%	14.3%	34.4%	5.4%	0.2%	0.5%	1.9%	N/A
Utah	Postsecondary students	78.92%	3.42%	8.07%	2.56%	0.75%	0.90%	2.34%	3.04%
	General population	81.4%	3.5%	8.3%	2.6%	0.8%	0.9%	2.4%	N/A
Vermont	Postsecondary students	85.42%	2.71%	4.10%	2.40%	0.09%	0.52%	2.51%	2.25%
	General population	87.4%	2.8%	4.2%	2.5%	0.1%	0.5%	2.6%	N/A
Virginia	Postsecondary students	59.18%	22.67%	6.37%	5.56%	0.27%	0.41%	2.78%	2.76%
	General population	60.9%	23.3%	6.5%	5.7%	0.3%	0.4%	2.9%	N/A
Washington	Postsecondary students	65.17%	4.68%	9.27%	8.76%	0.59%	1.34%	5.13%	5.07%
	General population	68.6%	4.9%	9.8%	9.2%	0.6%	1.4%	5.4%	N/A
West Virginia	Postsecondary students	76.08%	12.25%	4.98%	1.61%	0.46%	0.48%	2.15%	1.99%
	General population	77.6%	12.5%	5.1%	1.6%	0.5%	0.5%	2.2%	N/A
Wisconsin	Postsecondary students	79.80%	6.50%	4.79%	3.24%	0.11%	0.89%	1.90%	2.78%
	General population	82.1%	6.7%	4.9%	3.3%	0.1%	0.9%	2%	N/A
Wyoming	Postsecondary students	84.61%	1.48%	7.06%	0.90%	0.21%	1.68%	1.43%	2.63%
	General population	86.9%	1.5%	7.2%	0.9%	0.2%	1.7%	1.5%	N/A
U.S. Service Academies	Postsecondary students	70.62%	6.00%	10.38%	5.00%	0.51%	0.57%	5.54%	1.37%
	General population	71.6%	6.1%	10.5%	5.1%	0.5%	0.6%	5.6%	N/A
Other jurisdictions	Postsecondary students	0.39%	0.88%	93.36%	1.12%	3.83%	0.04%	0.14%	0.24%
	General population	0.4%	0.9%	93.6%	1.1%	3.8%	0%	0.1%	N/A
U.S.	Postsecondary students	58.04%	14.35%	14.43%	5.79%	0.31%	0.84%	2.45%	3.79%
	General population	60.3%	14.9%	15%	6%	0.3%	0.9%	2.5%	N/A
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 306.60. Fall enrollment in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by race/ethnicity of student and state or jurisdiction: 2012," accessed December 16, 2014

Enrollment by sex

2013

In fall 2013, 56.5 percent of all postsecondary students in the United States were women. The table below provides postsecondary student enrollment figures by sex for 2013.

Higher education enrollment by sex, 2013
State	Total students	Male students	Percentage	Female students	Percentage
Alabama	305,712	130,114	42.6%	175,598	57.4%
Alaska	34,890	14,280	40.9%	20,610	59.1%
Arizona	694,123	268,959	38.7%	425,164	61.3%
Arkansas	172,224	71,683	41.6%	100,541	58.4%
California	2,636,921	1,207,738	45.8%	1,429,183	54.2%
Colorado	358,723	160,698	44.8%	198,025	55.2%
Connecticut	200,966	85,657	42.6%	115,309	57.4%
Delaware	59,615	24,288	40.7%	35,327	59.3%
Florida	1,125,810	473,342	42.0%	652,468	58.0%
Georgia	533,424	218,143	40.9%	315,281	59.1%
Hawaii	76,434	32,506	42.5%	43,928	57.5%
Idaho	109,318	47,905	43.8%	61,413	56.2%
Illinois	842,888	367,768	43.6%	475,120	56.4%
Indiana	444,364	197,448	44.4%	246,916	55.6%
Iowa	339,738	134,970	39.7%	204,768	60.3%
Kansas	215,855	97,188	45.0%	118,667	55.0%
Kentucky	273,073	116,087	42.5%	156,986	57.5%
Louisiana	251,887	102,787	40.8%	149,100	59.2%
Maine	70,849	29,730	42.0%	41,119	58.0%
Maryland	363,771	157,731	43.4%	206,040	56.6%
Massachusetts	514,008	222,792	43.3%	291,216	56.7%
Michigan	643,592	285,976	44.4%	357,616	55.6%
Minnesota	441,491	176,542	40.0%	264,949	60.0%
Mississippi	173,634	68,566	39.5%	105,068	60.5%
Missouri	438,222	190,737	43.5%	247,485	56.5%
Montana	52,777	24,535	46.5%	28,242	53.5%
Nebraska	137,943	61,423	44.5%	76,520	55.5%
Nevada	116,738	51,611	44.2%	65,127	55.8%
New Hampshire	92,440	38,975	42.2%	53,465	57.8%
New Jersey	436,939	198,902	45.5%	238,037	54.5%
New Mexico	153,455	66,141	43.1%	87,314	56.9%
New York	1,304,230	568,124	43.6%	736,106	56.4%
North Carolina	575,198	237,340	41.3%	337,858	58.7%
North Dakota	55,063	27,003	49.0%	28,060	51.0%
Ohio	697,647	304,086	43.6%	393,561	56.4%
Oklahoma	220,897	96,831	43.8%	124,066	56.2%
Oregon	251,106	113,742	45.3%	137,364	54.7%
Pennsylvania	765,582	338,690	44.2%	426,892	55.8%
Rhode Island	83,460	36,424	43.6%	47,036	56.4%
South Carolina	257,844	105,675	41.0%	152,169	59.0%
South Dakota	55,129	24,196	43.9%	30,933	56.1%
Tennessee	338,197	142,395	42.1%	195,802	57.9%
Texas	1,541,378	672,609	43.6%	868,769	56.4%
Utah	264,255	127,815	48.4%	136,440	51.6%
Vermont	43,534	19,918	45.8%	23,616	54.2%
Virginia	583,755	252,000	43.2%	331,755	56.8%
Washington	363,377	163,646	45.0%	199,731	55.0%
West Virginia	157,954	78,873	49.9%	79,081	50.1%
Wisconsin	364,021	160,002	44.0%	204,019	56.0%
Wyoming	37,084	17,669	47.6%	19,415	52.4%
United States	20,375,789	8,860,786	43.5%	11,515,003	56.5%
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 304.30. Total fall enrollment in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by attendance status, sex, and state or jurisdiction: 2012 and 2013"

2012

In fall 2012, 56.79 percent of all postsecondary students in the United States were women. Click [show] on the green bar below to view postsecondary student enrollment figures by sex for 2012.

Higher education enrollment by sex, 2012
State	Total students	Male students	Percentage	Female students	Percentage
Alabama	310,311	131,513	42.38%	178,798	57.62%
Alaska	32,797	13,222	40.31%	19,575	59.69%
Arizona	736,379	280,280	38.06%	456,099	61.94%
Arkansas	176,458	72,723	41.21%	103,735	58.79%
California	2,621,460	1,196,144	45.63%	1,425,316	54.37%
Colorado	362,935	161,869	44.60%	201,066	55.40%
Connecticut	201,658	85,344	42.32%	116,314	57.68%
Delaware	58,128	23,679	40.74%	34,449	59.26%
District of Columbia	90,150	37,146	41.20%	53,004	58.80%
Florida	1,154,929	481,483	41.69%	673,446	58.31%
Georgia	545,358	219,797	40.30%	325,561	59.70%
Hawaii	78,456	33,403	42.58%	45,053	57.42%
Idaho	108,008	47,710	44.17%	60,298	55.83%
Illinois	867,110	375,256	43.28%	491,854	56.72%
Indiana	447,262	196,019	43.83%	251,243	56.17%
Iowa	361,183	142,025	39.32%	219,158	60.68%
Kansas	213,786	95,546	44.69%	118,240	55.31%
Kentucky	282,125	119,737	42.44%	162,388	57.56%
Louisiana	258,825	104,853	40.51%	153,972	59.49%
Maine	72,810	30,206	41.49%	42,604	58.51%
Maryland	374,496	160,616	42.89%	213,880	57.11%
Massachusetts	516,331	223,604	43.31%	292,727	56.69%
Michigan	663,825	292,488	44.06%	371,337	55.94%
Minnesota	451,661	181,807	40.25%	269,854	59.75%
Mississippi	176,665	69,014	39.06%	107,651	60.94%
Missouri	441,371	190,732	43.21%	250,639	56.79%
Montana	53,254	24,647	46.28%	28,607	53.72%
Nebraska	139,578	62,371	44.69%	77,207	55.31%
Nevada	118,300	52,067	44.01%	66,233	55.99%
New Hampshire	82,678	35,256	42.64%	47,422	57.36%
New Jersey	439,965	199,742	45.40%	240,223	54.60%
New Mexico	156,424	66,990	42.83%	89,434	57.17%
New York	1,309,986	566,386	43.24%	743,600	56.76%
North Carolina	578,031	235,800	40.79%	342,231	59.21%
North Dakota	55,169	26,979	48.90%	28,190	51.10%
Ohio	709,818	306,905	43.24%	402,913	56.76%
Oklahoma	228,464	100,861	44.15%	127,603	55.85%
Oregon	254,695	115,078	45.18%	139,617	54.82%
Pennsylvania	777,242	341,632	43.95%	435,610	56.05%
Rhode Island	83,952	36,467	43.44%	47,485	56.56%
South Carolina	259,617	104,944	40.42%	154,673	59.58%
South Dakota	56,058	24,245	43.25%	31,813	56.75%
Tennessee	343,641	144,159	41.95%	199,482	58.05%
Texas	1,540,298	666,235	43.25%	874,063	56.75%
Utah	267,309	129,405	48.41%	137,904	51.59%
Vermont	44,703	20,349	45.52%	24,354	54.48%
Virginia	588,696	253,765	43.11%	334,931	56.89%
Washington	365,514	164,206	44.92%	201,308	55.08%
West Virginia	162,179	81,828	50.46%	80,351	49.54%
Wisconsin	369,732	162,294	43.90%	207,438	56.10%
Wyoming	37,812	18,073	47.80%	19,739	52.20%
U.S. Service Academies	15,227	12,187	80.04%	3,040	19.96%
Other jurisdictions	259,943	107,859	41.49%	152,084	58.51%
U.S.	20,642,819	8,919,087	43.21%	11,723,732	56.79%
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 304.30. Total fall enrollment in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by attendance status, sex, and state or jurisdiction: 2011 and 2012," accessed December 16, 2014

See also

• Higher education by state
• Higher education tuition statistics
• Higher education financial aid statistics
• Higher education retention rates
• Higher education graduation rates
• Higher education funding
• Higher education faculty statistics
• Student debt in higher education in the United States

External links

• State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, "State Higher Education Finance: FY 2014"