States with largest higher education enrollment, fall 2019

In fall 2019, overall postsecondary enrollment at U.S. institutions decreased 1.3 percent, or more than 231,000 students, from the previous fall.

The Fall 2019 Current Term Enrollment Estimates report compiled by the National Student Clearinghouse® Research calculated fall 2019 higher education enrollment at 17.9 million students.

For the first time in the decade, the nation’s fall unduplicated enrollments fell below 18 million students, the clearinghouse found.

Florida saw the greater drop in year-to-year enrollment—52,328 students.

Fifteen states saw increases in enrollment, especially those in the South and the West. Utah had the greatest year-to-year  increase—nearly 16,800 students or a 4.9% growth from last year.

California, with more than 2.4 million students, had the largest college enrollment among the states.

Here are the 10 states with the largest higher education student enrollments in fall 2019.

State                 Enrollment     Change from fall 2018

California         2,446,867        -0.8%

Texas                1,490,953       +0.3%

New York          1,044,388       -1.8%

Florida                 933,180        -5.3%

Pennsylvania      639,366        -2.3%

Ohio                     593,527        -0.9%

Illinois                  583,960        -2.4% 

North Carolina   524,679        +0.6%

Georgia               518,826         +1.5%

Virginia                483,606         -0.5%