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Watch the Webcast Recording of the 11th Edition Knocking at the College Door Release

For many years, demographers have warned that the number of high school graduates would peak then decline, adding new pressure to postsecondary enrollments facing the proverbial “cliff.” As predicted, the United States next year will reach its highest peak ever for high school graduates and then enter a period of slow and steady decline, according to the 11th edition of Knocking at the College Door, which was released December 11, 2024. Read the press release.

Media Mentions

American Colleges are Facing an Enrollment Crisis as Young People Turn to Trades

An article from the New York Post discusses how two-year vocational programs have become viable alternatives to traditional four-year degrees. Data from Knocking at the College Door: Projections of High School Graduates is cited. View original source.

August 21, 2026

America’s Colleges Are Hurtling Toward an Enrollment Cliff

An article from The Wall Street Journal discusses the impact of a declining pool of high school graduates on higher education in the US. Data from Knocking at the College Door: Projections of High School Graduates is cited. View original source. ($)

August 20, 2026

As US Small Colleges Close, Towns Can Struggle. In Vermont, One Turned the Page.

An article from The Christian Science Monitor discusses how the town of Plainfield repurposed the now-closed Goddard College campus as a community cultural hub. Data from Knocking at the College Door: Projections of High School Graduates is cited. View...

August 11, 2026