Quad
National trends

National trends

Biggest movers

The colleges that changed the most, measure by measure. Each list ranks only colleges that were big enough at the start for a change to mean something, and leaves out closed campuses, mergers, and reporting errors (the ). Changes in rates are in ; costs are .

Fall 2014 to fall 2024 for admissions and enrollment; each list gives its own years.

Applications surged

, fall 2014 to fall 2024

Median college: +41.8% (881 colleges ranked)

  1. 1Southern University and A & M College+710.5%3,003 → 24,340
  2. 2Clark Atlanta University+430.1%5,140 → 27,245
  3. 3North Carolina A & T State University+415.8%7,075 → 36,496
  4. 4Rutgers University-Camden+401.4%6,550 → 32,840
  5. 5Edward Waters University+389.7%2,100 → 10,283
  6. 6Morgan State University+386.0%4,808 → 23,366
  7. 7Wingate University+359.6%6,601 → 30,339
  8. 8Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University+353.6%5,017 → 22,756
  9. 9Fisk University+348.9%2,544 → 11,421
  10. 10Grambling State University+348.4%2,894 → 12,976

Who's ranked: colleges with 2,000+ applicants in fall 2014. Left out: closed, merged, or reorganized campuses (6); colleges under 300 undergraduates today (1); for-profit colleges (1); (12); figures that jumped more than threefold in a year at either end (2).

See all in Explore

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2014 to Fall 2024;College Scorecard (enrollment), Fall 2014 to Fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education), Fall 2014 to Fall 2024About the data(built 2026-10-12; CPI retrieved 2026-10-12)

Got much harder to get into

, fall 2014 to fall 2024

Median college: +6 pts (891 colleges ranked)

  1. 1Fisk University−46 pts83% → 37%
  2. 2Fairfield University−38 pts72% → 33%
  3. 3Denison University−38 pts56% → 17%
  4. 4Auburn University−38 pts83% → 46%
  5. 4Bemidji State University−38 pts94% → 56%
  6. 6University of Akron Main Campus−36 pts96% → 60%
  7. 7Mississippi Christian University−34 pts63% → 29%
  8. 8The University of Tennessee-Knoxville−33 pts75% → 42%
  9. 9Alcorn State University−33 pts78% → 45%
  10. 10Florida State University−31 pts55% → 24%

Who's ranked: colleges with 2,000+ applicants in fall 2014. Left out: closed, merged, or reorganized campuses (6); colleges under 300 undergraduates today (1); figures that jumped more than threefold in a year at either end (5).

See all in Explore

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2014 to Fall 2024;College Scorecard (enrollment), Fall 2014 to Fall 2024About the data(built 2026-10-12; CPI retrieved 2026-10-12)

Got much easier to get into

, fall 2014 to fall 2024

Median college: +6 pts (891 colleges ranked)

  1. 1Liberty University+77 pts22% → 99%
  2. 2Virginia Union University+74 pts24% → 98%
  3. 3Paine College+65 pts30% → 95%
  4. 4Florida Memorial University+65 pts21% → 85%
  5. 5Central State University+61 pts38% → 99%
  6. 6Corban University+57 pts37% → 94%
  7. 7Barton College+56 pts38% → 94%
  8. 8Texas A&M University-San Antonio+54 pts39% (fall 2016) → 93%
  9. 9California State University-Dominguez Hills+51 pts42% → 93%
  10. 10La Sierra University+51 pts41% → 92%

Who's ranked: colleges with 2,000+ applicants in fall 2014. Left out: closed, merged, or reorganized campuses (6); colleges under 300 undergraduates today (1); figures that jumped more than threefold in a year at either end (5).

See all in Explore

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2014 to Fall 2024;College Scorecard (enrollment), Fall 2014 to Fall 2024About the data(built 2026-10-12; CPI retrieved 2026-10-12)

Grew the most

, fall 2014 to fall 2024

Median college: −12.0% (1,184 colleges ranked)

  1. 1Maryville University of Saint Louis+106.8%2,736 → 5,658
  2. 2University of St Thomas+106.0%1,563 → 3,220
  3. 3University of Connecticut-Stamford+82.0%1,336 → 2,432
  4. 4Texas A&M University-San Antonio+81.8%3,630 (fall 2015) → 6,599
  5. 5Uta Mesivta of Kiryas Joel+81.0%1,634 → 2,957
  6. 6Cumberland University+80.3%1,167 → 2,104
  7. 7Savannah College of Art and Design+72.3%8,846 → 15,243
  8. 8Southern Utah University+68.5%5,514 → 9,289
  9. 9Southeastern University+63.4%2,946 → 4,813
  10. 10Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott+63.3%1,971 → 3,218

Who's ranked: colleges with 1,000+ undergraduates in fall 2014. Left out: closed, merged, or reorganized campuses (30); colleges under 300 undergraduates today (3); for-profit colleges (19); (53).

See all in Explore

Sources:College Scorecard (enrollment), Fall 2014 to Fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education), Fall 2014 to Fall 2024About the data(built 2026-10-12; CPI retrieved 2026-10-12)

Shrank the most

, fall 2014 to fall 2024

Median college: −11.9% (1,256 colleges ranked)

  1. 1Ohio Christian University−73.9%3,306 → 862
  2. 2Universidad Central de Bayamon−70.0%1,794 → 539
  3. 3Ohio University-Lancaster Campus−69.4%2,256 → 691
  4. 4University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus−67.7%2,272 → 733
  5. 5Columbia College−67.3%15,141 → 4,950
  6. 6University of Baltimore−67.1%3,444 → 1,133
  7. 7Berkeley College-New York−67.0%4,388 → 1,449
  8. 8Thomas Edison State University−66.7%20,143 → 6,707
  9. 9Bethel University−66.6%4,638 → 1,547
  10. 10Boricua College−64.6%1,104 → 391

Smaller can be deliberate: a college ending programs or a system consolidating campuses shrinks on purpose. The list shows how much, not why. 33 colleges that closed, merged, or are winding down aren't listed.

Who's ranked: colleges with 1,000+ undergraduates in fall 2014. Left out: closed, merged, or reorganized campuses (30); colleges under 300 undergraduates today (3).

See all in Explore Including them

Source:College Scorecard (enrollment), Fall 2014 to Fall 2024About the data(built 2026-10-12; CPI retrieved 2026-10-12)

Students pay much less

(in 2023–24 dollars), 2013–14 to 2023–24

Median college: −11.3% (1,149 colleges ranked)

  1. 1University of Tulsa−64.9%$42,235 → $14,813
  2. 2Wiley University−55.3%$17,813 → $7,959
  3. 3Bridgewater College−52.1%$26,645 → $12,757
  4. 4Albion College−49.0%$32,968 → $16,818
  5. 5Virginia Union University−48.3%$27,251 → $14,082
  6. 6Bethel University−47.7%$27,823 → $14,548
  7. 7Arkansas Baptist College−46.6%$20,879 → $11,156
  8. 7Oklahoma Panhandle State University−46.6%$16,390 → $8,757
  9. 9United Talmudical Seminary−45.9%$14,580 → $7,881
  10. 10Fort Valley State University−45.7%$21,191 → $11,504

Who's ranked: colleges with 1,000+ undergraduates and an average cost over $5,000 in 2013–14. Left out: closed, merged, or reorganized campuses (9); colleges under 300 undergraduates today (1); figures that jumped more than threefold in a year at either end (1).

See all in Explore

Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2013–14 to 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2013–14 to 2023–24;College Scorecard (enrollment), Fall 2013 to Fall 2024;inflation: BLS CPI-U, school-year averagesAbout the data(built 2026-10-12; CPI retrieved 2026-10-12)

Students pay much more

(in 2023–24 dollars), 2013–14 to 2023–24

Median college: −11.3% (1,149 colleges ranked)

  1. 1Augusta University+68.1%$11,060 → $18,587
  2. 2Tennessee State University+62.3%$17,776 → $28,852
  3. 3Jackson State University+56.9%$16,735 → $26,256
  4. 4Pepperdine University+51.4%$45,588 → $69,013
  5. 5AdventHealth University+44.7%$26,782 → $38,765
  6. 6East Texas A&M University+44.0%$9,689 → $13,952
  7. 7Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce+40.1%$11,360 → $15,917
  8. 8The University of Montana-Western+38.9%$16,756 → $23,271
  9. 9Henderson State University+38.3%$15,280 → $21,131
  10. 10Texas A&M University-College Station+36.9%$20,529 → $28,113

Who's ranked: colleges with 1,000+ undergraduates and an average cost over $5,000 in 2013–14. Left out: closed, merged, or reorganized campuses (9); colleges under 300 undergraduates today (1); figures that jumped more than threefold in a year at either end (1).

See all in Explore

Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2013–14 to 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2013–14 to 2023–24;College Scorecard (enrollment), Fall 2013 to Fall 2024;inflation: BLS CPI-U, school-year averagesAbout the data(built 2026-10-12; CPI retrieved 2026-10-12)

Graduation rate climbed

, Classes entering fall 2008 to fall 2018

Median college: +3 pts (1,083 colleges ranked)

  1. 1Touro University+31 pts41% → 72%
  2. 2Jacksonville State University+25 pts30% → 55%
  3. 3Boise State University+24 pts36% → 60%
  4. 4Wayne State University+24 pts34% → 58%
  5. 5D'Youville University+24 pts44% → 67%
  6. 6Colorado Christian University+22 pts42% → 64%
  7. 7The University of Texas at San Antonio+22 pts31% → 53%
  8. 8Universidad del Sagrado Corazon+21 pts31% → 52%
  9. 9University of Mary+20 pts46% → 67%
  10. 10Florida International University+20 pts54% → 74%

Who's ranked: colleges with 1,000+ undergraduates when the first class entered and 200+ students in both entering classes (classes entering fall 2008 and fall 2018). Left out: closed, merged, or reorganized campuses (10).

Sources:College Scorecard (graduation by entering class), classes entering fall 2008 to fall 2018;College Scorecard (enrollment), Fall 2008 to Fall 2024;College Scorecard (graduation by race and ethnicity), classes entering fall 2008 to fall 2018About the data(built 2026-10-12; CPI retrieved 2026-10-12)

More students from out of state

, fall 2014 to fall 2024

Median college: +1 pts (408 colleges ranked)

  1. 1Jackson State University+35 pts37% → 72%
  2. 2Augusta University+28 pts5% → 33%
  3. 3Morgan State University+26 pts24% → 50%
  4. 4Alabama A & M University+23 pts31% → 54%
  5. 5The University of Tennessee-Knoxville+23 pts13% → 35%
  6. 6Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College+21 pts18% → 39%
  7. 7Valdosta State University+21 pts5% → 26%
  8. 8Western Connecticut State University+21 pts4% → 26%
  9. 9North Carolina A & T State University+19 pts22% → 41%
  10. 10Purdue University-Main Campus+19 pts29% → 47%

Who's ranked: public colleges with 500+ enrolled first-years in fall 2014. Left out: closed, merged, or reorganized campuses (3).

Sources:IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students), Fall 2014 to Fall 2024;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2014 to Fall 2024;College Scorecard (enrollment), Fall 2014 to Fall 2024About the data(built 2026-10-12; CPI retrieved 2026-10-12)

Pell gap closed most

, Classes entering fall 2008 to fall 2018

Median college: +1 pts (778 colleges ranked)

  1. 1Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks−34 pts15 pts (fall 2010) → −19 pts
  2. 2Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg−33 pts7 pts (fall 2010) → −26 pts
  3. 3Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington−29 pts8 pts (fall 2010) → −22 pts
  4. 4Elmhurst University−29 pts22 pts (fall 2010) → −7 pts
  5. 5Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College−24 pts13 pts (fall 2010) → −12 pts
  6. 6Ohio University-Lancaster Campus−23 pts22 pts (fall 2010) → −2 pts
  7. 7Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona−21 pts17 pts (fall 2010) → −4 pts
  8. 8Grinnell College−21 pts15 pts (fall 2010) → −5 pts
  9. 9Miami University-Hamilton−19 pts29 pts (fall 2010) → 10 pts
  10. 10Gannon University−19 pts24 pts (fall 2010) → 6 pts

Who's ranked: colleges with 100+ Pell recipients and 100+ students with neither in both entering classes (classes entering fall 2008 and fall 2018). Left out: closed, merged, or reorganized campuses (6).

Sources:IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), classes entering fall 2010 to fall 2018;College Scorecard (enrollment), Fall 2008 to Fall 2024About the data(built 2026-10-12; CPI retrieved 2026-10-12)

How the lists are made

  • The same change as college pages. Each list ranks the change a college's own page and Explore show, from the window's first year (or up to two years later, when a college didn't report that year) to its last. Ties at the tenth place are all shown.
  • A floor at the start. A percent change on a small base isn't the story, so each list names the size a college needed at the start of the window.
  • Still open, one campus. Colleges under 300 undergraduates today are closing rather than shrinking, and are left off every list, as are campuses that merged or split during the window (42 reviewed by hand).
  • Campus-based growth. The growth lists leave out for-profit colleges and , colleges where more than half of undergraduates took every course online at the window's start or at its end, whose enrollment can grow without a campus growing. A college that reported no share counts as campus-based.
  • Reporting errors. A count at either end that is more than 3× (or under a third) of the year next to it is usually a typo in a college's report; those colleges are left off the list, not out of the data.
  • The universe. The site's four-year colleges, not all of U.S. higher education. A list shows how much a college changed, not why.