David McMillan Interim Chancellor | University of Minnesota-Duluth
David McMillan Interim Chancellor | University of Minnesota-Duluth
Of the four institutions in the county, two provided detailed enrollment data at the time, including The College of Saint Scholastica and University of Minnesota-Duluth.
At least 11,165 people applied to St. Louis County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 19,775 students enrolled in the universities, including 17,641 in undergraduate and 2,134 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 (77%) and students of unknown ethinicity (7.4%).
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, University of Minnesota-Duluth stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 9,675 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Superior College | -- | -- | 3,849 |
| The College of Saint Scholastica | 1,653 | 1,603 | 3,207 |
| University of Minnesota-Duluth | 9,512 | 7,705 | 9,675 |
| Minnesota North College | -- | -- | 3,044 |
Alerts Sign-up