Dr. John C. Boyd, President | Mayland Community College
Dr. John C. Boyd, President | Mayland Community College
Of the two institutions in the county, Lees-McRae College was the only one that provided detailed enrollment data at the time.
At least 1,733 people applied to Avery County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 1,638 students enrolled in the universities, all of them in undergraduate programs. In total 6.8% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (80.7%) and Hispanic (7%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Lees-McRae College stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 855 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayland Community College | -- | -- | 783 |
| Lees-McRae College | 1,733 | 1,057 | 855 |
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