TUALATIN, OR – The headcount enrollment of the Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges & Universities’ (The Alliance) thirteen member institutions increased by 1% from fall 2020 to fall 2021. Comparably, the most recent data from the Higher Education Coordinating Commission reported a 0.4% drop in community college headcount enrollment and a 0.5% drop in public university headcount enrollment during the same time period.
“It is clear that students continue to view Alliance member colleges and universities as a tremendous value and pathway to securing a brighter future. In a constantly changing world, our member institutions are preparing the next generation of leaders to recognize and solve problems, to communicate ideas and solutions persuasively, and learn new skills and adapt to change quickly throughout their lifetime,” said Brent Wilder, President of The Alliance. “Our members work diligently to help students minimize debt, graduate on time, and prepared for a life of meaningful contributions while at the same time having a significant impact on Oregon’s economy, which was $1.58 billion in 2018-19.”
Additionally, The Alliance is pleased with our high levels of vaccination, the willingness among students to engage in COVID-19 safety measures, and the low rate of cases across our 13 member colleges and universities. Our members have implemented a variety of systems and plans to manage potential roadblocks or virus resurgence, including requiring masks/face coverings in all indoor spaces, cleaning protocols developed from CDC guidance, sanitizing stations throughout campus, COVID-19 surveillance testing, and proof of vaccination for sporting events.
Further 2021-22 Highlights:
- Total enrollment at Alliance institutions is 26,331 students.
- 7% of students are first-generation.
- 49% of transfer students have previously attended an Oregon community college.
- Alliance institutions enroll a higher number of diverse students compared to Oregon’s population data from the 2020 census:
- 4% of The Alliance’s aggregate student population are Asian American, compared to the 4.6% of Oregon’s population.
- 7% of The Alliance’s student body population are African American, compared to 2.0% of Oregon’s overall population.
- 14% of The Alliance’s student body population are Hispanic/Latinx, compared to 13.9% of Oregon’s overall population.
- The percentage of undergraduate first-time, full-time, degree seeking, and Pell eligible students is 25.4%.
- Oregon students constitute 45% of enrolled learners, an increase of 1.1% over the last year.
- Alliance institutions have a split of 66% undergraduate and 34% graduate.
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The Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities (“The Alliance”) is comprised of 13 private, nonprofit, independent colleges and universities in the state of Oregon. These institutions deliver high-quality experiential learning with high-impact teaching strategies. The Alliance is the collective voice of Oregon’s independent, nonprofit higher education sector. For more information, visit www.oaicu.org.