“College Enrollment Hits All-Time High, Fueled by Community College Surge”

The share of young adults attending college in the United States hit an all-time high in October 2008, driven by a recession-era surge in enrollments at community colleges. According to the Pew Research Center analysis, which was based on newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 11.5 million students -- or nearly 40 percent of all 18- to 24-year-olds -- attended college in October 2008.

Enrollments have been rising over many decades at both two- and four-year colleges, but the most recent annual spike has taken place entirely at two-year colleges. The report, which analyzes college enrollment by gender, race and ethnicity, suggests that 2009 college enrollment for 18- to 24-year-olds will at a minimum continue at the high levels of college enrollment measured for 2008.

Read the report.