Christopher L. Eisgruber, President | Princeton University
Christopher L. Eisgruber, President | Princeton University
Of the 11 institutions in the county, three provided detailed enrollment data at the time, including Princeton University, Rider University and The College of New Jersey.
At least 57,661 people applied to Mercer County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 35,081 students enrolled in the universities, including 29,478 in undergraduate and 5,603 in graduate programs. In total 7.3% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (44.9%) and Hispanic (16.9%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Princeton University stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 8,842 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.
NCES shows that enrollment data was not available for two institutions in Mercer County, including Princeton Theological Seminary and Jersey College - Ewing.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rider University | 9,340 | 7,846 | 4,054 |
| The College of New Jersey | 10,302 | 6,593 | 7,629 |
| Fortis Institute-Lawrenceville | -- | -- | 244 |
| Mercer County Community College | -- | -- | 5,821 |
| Capital Health School of Nursing | -- | -- | 53 |
| Princeton Theological Seminary | -- | -- | -- |
| Princeton University | 38,019 | 2,281 | 8,842 |
| Capital Health School of Radiologic Technology | -- | -- | 16 |
| Thomas Edison State University | -- | -- | 8,248 |
| Jersey College - Ewing | -- | -- | -- |
| Innovate Salon Academy | -- | -- | 174 |
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