Don Tomas President | Southwestern Community College
Don Tomas President | Southwestern Community College
Of the two institutions in the county, Western Carolina University was the only one that provided detailed enrollment data at the time.
At least 17,917 people applied to Jackson County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 13,891 students enrolled in the universities, including 12,212 in undergraduate and 1,679 in graduate programs. In total 8.8% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (75.5%) and Hispanic (8.4%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Western Carolina University stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 11,635 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Carolina University | 17,917 | 15,229 | 11,635 |
| Southwestern Community College | -- | -- | 2,256 |
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