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Number of college students in the United States 1965-2027

U.S. college enrollment statistics for public and private colleges from 1965 to 2016 and projections up to 2027 (in millions)

The data displays the college enrollment for public and private schools in the U.S. from 1965 to 2016 with an additional forecast to 2027. In 2016, about 5.3 million students were enrolled in private colleges and 14.6 million in public colleges. From 1965 to 2016, total college enrollment increased by roughly 240%. The ratio of public to private colleges has increased slightly over this time, with public colleges making up 67% of enrollments in 1965 and 74% in 2016.

2027	15.19	5.27
2026	15.16	5.25
2025	15.1	5.23
2024	15.04	5.22
2023	14.99	5.2
2022	14.95	5.18
2021	14.91	5.17
2020	14.89	5.16
2019	14.87	5.15
2018	14.8	5.13
2017	14.73	5.1
2016	14.58	5.26
2015	14.57	5.42
2014	14.65	5.55
2013	14.75	5.63
2012	14.88	5.76
2011	15.12	5.89
2010	15.14	5.88
2009	14.81	5.5
2008	13.97	5.13
2007	13.49	4.76
2006	13.18	4.58
2005	13.02	4.47
2004	12.98	4.29
2003	12.86	4.05
2002	12.75	3.86
2001	12.23	3.69
2000	11.75	3.56
1999	11.38	3.47
1998	11.14	3.37
1997	11.2	3.31
1996	11.12	3.25
1995	11.09	3.17
1994	11.13	3.15
1993	11.19	3.12
1992	11.38	3.1
1991	11.31	3.05
1990	10.84	2.97
1989	10.58	2.96
1988	10.16	2.89
1987	9.97	2.79
1986	9.71	2.79
1985	9.48	2.77
1984	9.48	2.76
1983	9.68	2.78
1982	9.7	2.73
1981	9.65	2.72
1980	9.46	2.64
1979	9.04	2.53
1978	8.79	2.47
1977	8.85	2.44
1976	8.65	2.36
1975	8.83	2.35
1974	7.99	2.24
1973	7.42	2.18
1972	7.07	2.14
1971	6.8	2.14
1970	6.43	2.15
1969	5.9	2.11
1968	5.43	2.08
1967	4.82	2.1
1966	4.35	2.04
1965	3.97	1.95

Number of college students in the United States 1965-2027

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