Anne M. Houtman President | Earlham College
Anne M. Houtman President | Earlham College
Of the five institutions in the county, two provided detailed enrollment data at the time, including Earlham College and Indiana University-East.
At least 2,961 people applied to Wayne County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 3,781 students enrolled in the universities, including 3,463 in undergraduate and 318 in graduate programs. In total 8% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (71.5%) and Hispanic (7.1%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Indiana University-East stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 3,039 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.
NCES shows that enrollment data was not available for two institutions in Wayne County, including Bethany Theological Seminary and Ivy Tech Community College-Richmond.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ivy Tech Community College-Richmond | -- | -- | -- |
| PJ's College of Cosmetology-Richmond | -- | -- | 65 |
| Bethany Theological Seminary | -- | -- | -- |
| Indiana University-East | 1,586 | 1,237 | 3,039 |
| Earlham College | 1,375 | 1,004 | 677 |
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