The rate of freshman enrollment at colleges across the country, from private to public, has dropped to the lowest levels since before the Chinese Coronavirus pandemic.

According to the Daily Caller, freshman enrollment at public universities decreased by 8.5% in 2024 compared to 2023, while private enrollment dropped by 6.5% in the same span of time. This comes despite the fact that freshman enrollment rose slightly in 2023 compared to 2022, with a mere 0.8% increase.

The data comes from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, and was released on Wednesday. The survey shows that such declines were felt across all major demographics, including income levels; the largest drop-off could be seen in middle-class freshmen.

Instead of enrolling in college, would-be freshmen are instead applying for short-term certification programs, with applications for credentialing programs rising by 7.3% in 2024 compared to the previous year.

Among the many possible reasons for the trend is the hyper-politicization of college campuses in recent years, particularly with regards to widespread anti-Semitic demonstrations across the country following the deadly Hamas attack against Israel on October 7th, 2023. Riots have struck numerous colleges, resulting in damaged university property, assaults on Jewish students, and temporary lockdowns of several campuses.

In addition, there has been a broader decline in support for traditional universities, as many would-be students instead choose trade schools rather than pursuing a four-year degree.