(NewsNation) — Over the past decade, college enrollment has seen a gradual decline, but a recent survey found that most of the downturn can be attributed to fewer young men pursuing a degree.
In 2022, 39% of young men who have a high school diploma are enrolled in college, Pew Research Center said. This is down from 47% in 2011.
The rate of young female high school graduates enrolled in college also fell, but not as much with 52% in 2011 and 48% in 2022.
According to the Pew Research Center, both men and women were about equally likely to say affordability was a big reason they had not completed a four-year degree.
Last year, researchers said the total number of 18-to-24-year-olds enrolled in college was down overall by approximately 1.2 million from its peak in 2011.