College enrollment fell in 2012

The U.S. Census Bureau says college enrollment in fall 2012 plunged by 467,000 students compared with one year earlier. This decline, which includes both graduate and undergraduate enrollment, follows a period of substantial growth between 2006 and 2011. This decline in college enrollment was driven by older students — that is, those 25 and older. Their enrollment fell by 419,000; the enrollment of younger students declined by 48,000.