Enrollment in Georgia’s universities has fallen for the second year in a row.
Data released by the University System of Georgia on Tuesday showed a 1.8% decline in enrollment among its 26 public universities and colleges this year, compared to 1.1% fewer students nationwide.
Officials noted several factors that could have contributed to this decline: the impact of the pandemic, a smaller number of high school students graduating, and an unstable job market that has led some students to skip college and go straight to work instead.
In the fall of 2020, USG enrolled an all-time high of 341,000 students, which fell to 340,000 last fall and slumped to 334,000 this year. Enrollment fell most sharply at Clayton State University, while Georgia Tech was able to grow their student body by 3.3%.