Despite all the uncertainties and moving parts on campuses as a result of the pandemic, college students pretty much stayed on course and didn’t withdraw or take fewer classes, according to a new analysis of data by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
The general status quo in enrollment intensity seems the same across demographic characteristics and institution types, and is consistent with the prior two years, the center says. In 2018 and 2019, only 13 percent of students changed their enrollment status during the term. In 2020, the percent dropped slightly, to 12 percent, according to the report.
Community colleges followed a similar pattern. A lower percentage of public two-year college students changed their enrollment status between the start and end of the term: 18 percent in 2020, 19 percent in 2019 and 20 percent in 2018.
