New data shows undergraduate enrollment is in its “steepest decline”

(KYMA, KECY/ CNN) - The spring 2021 semester saw the steepest decline in undergraduate enrollment in colleges and universities since the pandemic began in March 2020.

That's according to new data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

Overall enrollment for the spring semester was down 5.9% compared to a year ago. Meanwhile, community colleges saw an 11.3% drop.

The largest decline in enrollment is among 20-year-olds, who make up more than 40% of all undergraduate students. However, graduate enrollment grew 4.4% for the spring semester in 2021.