Lisa Watson President | Northwest College-Beaverton
Lisa Watson President | Northwest College-Beaverton
Of the five institutions in the county, two provided detailed enrollment data at the time, including Pacific University and Sumner College.
At least 2,784 people applied to Washington County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 4,202 students enrolled in the universities, including 2,282 in undergraduate and 1,920 in graduate programs. In total 6.4% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (46.5%) and Hispanic (18%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Pacific University stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 3,559 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest College-Tualatin | -- | -- | 12 |
| Northwest College-Beaverton | -- | -- | 55 |
| Summit Salon Academy-Portland | -- | -- | 66 |
| Sumner College | 25 | 25 | 510 |
| Pacific University | 2,759 | 2,538 | 3,559 |
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