Dr. Aswani K. Volety President | University of North Carolina, Wilmington
Dr. Aswani K. Volety President | University of North Carolina, Wilmington
Of the four institutions in the county, University of North Carolina Wilmington was the only one that provided detailed enrollment data at the time.
At least 16,860 people applied to New Hanover County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 32,682 students enrolled in the universities, including 29,133 in undergraduate and 3,549 in graduate programs. In total 5.5% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (72.4%) and Hispanic (9.4%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, University of North Carolina Wilmington stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 17,843 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Fear Community College | -- | -- | 14,170 |
| College of Wilmington | -- | -- | 152 |
| Miller-Motte College-Wilmington | -- | -- | 517 |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | 16,860 | 11,633 | 17,843 |
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