Education · Facts & sources
6 sourced facts about students, each with the context behind the number. 4 more are in today's round and appear here after it closes.
Answer19.0 million
That was 10% lower than fall 2012, when 21.1 million students were enrolled.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Back-to-School Fast Facts (2022) nces.ed.gov
Answer11.0 million women vs. 8.0 million men
Women made up about 58% of all college students that fall.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Back-to-School Fast Facts (2022) nces.ed.gov
Answer53%
About 26% of all college students took their courses exclusively online.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Back-to-School Fast Facts (2022) nces.ed.gov
Answer1,965,000
Colleges also awarded 959,000 associate's, 933,000 master's and 205,000 doctor's degrees.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Back-to-School Fast Facts (2023) nces.ed.gov
Answer77%
Academic clubs (72%) and performing arts (71%) were close behind.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Back-to-School Fast Facts (2023) nces.ed.gov
Answer40%
72% of undergraduates got some kind of financial aid, and 34% took out federal Direct Loans.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Back-to-School Fast Facts (2020) nces.ed.gov