The total enrollment at Iowa’s public universities is leveling off after a period of post-pandemic growth. The institutions released their 2026 student data on Thursday.
The total student population fell half a percentage point from last year. The declines come from the University of Iowa and Iowa State University.
However, the University of Northern Iowa is reporting its highest numbers since 2020, with 9,300 students, as it celebrates its 150th year.
Total enrollment in the system reached a peak in 2016 with over 80,000 students. After falling to a low in 2022, the colleges have climbed back to roughly 71,500 this fall.
The state’s population of graduating high schoolers is expected to drop in 2027.
The Iowa Board of Regents, which is the governing body for public university system, expects this ‘enrollment cliff’ to increase competition for students in higher education.
The factor of an approaching enrollment cliff both regionally and nationally had been predicted several years ago.
