Cori Haddix, Digital Marketing Specialist at Laurel Business Institute | LinkedIn
Cori Haddix, Digital Marketing Specialist at Laurel Business Institute | LinkedIn
Of the three institutions in the county, two provided detailed enrollment data at the time, including Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly and Laurel Business Institute.
At least 1,034 people applied to Fayette County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 806 students enrolled in the universities, all of them in undergraduate programs. In total 8.8% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (88.1%) and Black or African American (6.5%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 424 students.
U.S. college enrollment has been in a downward trend since peaking at around 18.1 million students in 2010. Recent increases offered some relief, but experts project a steeper decline in 2025.
This decline is likely due to two main factors. First, the pool of young adults is shrinking as birth rates have fallen nearly 23% between 2007 and 2022. Second, the rising cost of higher education, including skyrocketing student loan debt. A 2023 Wall Street Journal report shows that more than half of Americans think a four-year degree is not worth the cost.
Some educational data is based on estimates. Shifting demographics among student populations can sometimes result in gender totals which do not equal 100%.
| Institution | # of Applicants | # of Admitted Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel Business Institute | 162 | 136 | 305 |
| Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program | -- | -- | 77 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly | 872 | 706 | 424 |
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