Despite a demographic shift enrollment at Ohio public universities increases slightly

The Columbus Dispatch reported more than 453,800 students are enrolled at Ohio public universities, their regional campuses and community colleges this fall across, according to the Ohio Department of Higher Education's preliminary data.

That figure includes undergraduates, graduate and professional students, and high school students who are also enrolled in college. The majority of those students — about 70% — are undergraduates enrolled at public universities and community colleges, according to The Dispatch.

According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, Ohio's overall college enrollment was up nearly 2%. The University of Cincinnati had another good year with enrollment up nearly 1% to 53,682 students, The Dispatch reported.

College student enrollment remains fairly stable despite the state moving toward a demographic shift reflecting an expected decline in the number of high school graduates. The state’s number of high school graduates peaked in 2019 and is expected to drop to 122,354 total graduates by 2037.

Read the article in The Columbus Dispatch online.

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