February 2022

The decline in college enrollment at higher education institutions in Minnesota — both public and private nonprofit — is being driven by low-income students not enrolling in or stopping out of college. Last year, college enrollment of Pell Grant recipients fell by 12 percent while college enrollment of students who did not receive Pell Grants fell by only 2 percent.

12
%

Decline in enrollment of those who DO receive the Pell Grant

2
%

Decline in enrollment of those who do NOT receive the Pell Grant

Sources: U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid Data 2020-21, IPEDS Unduplicated Headcount Enrollment Data 2020-21

Note: Students attending private for-profit institutions were excluded from the analysis because accurate enrollment data was unavailable.