Large Schools Show Decline In Enrollment

Harvard's enrollment, like that of universities all over America, is on the decline.

Although the present number of students in the University exceeds the 1941 total by 65 percent, figures show a 5.7 percent decrease in enrollment since last year. The decline follows the trend indicated in a recent New York Times survey.

Dropping from 11,757 students in the University last year to the present total of 11,105, Harvard follows closely the five to ten percent decline in the larger public institutions, including all Ivy League schools. However, when the small schools are considered, the nation's college and universities show a 2.3 percent increase over enrollment figures for 1948.

Less Freshmen

This increase does not come in freshman classes which show a 7.8 percent decline from last year in the national scene as well as 16.7 percent decrease at Harvard. Because of the large number of college graduates during the recent years, when a great number of veterans returned to school, the graduate schools have had to bear the brunt of the increase.

The decrease in total Harvard enrollment, however, is so great that even its graduate schools show a decline. 6,310 students were enrolled in Harvard graduate schools in 1948, while the present enrollment is 5,962. This almost doubles the 3,689 total of 1941.

Perhaps the most striking figure in the decrease of Harvard enrollment is the number of veterans now at the University. In 1948, 7,131 veterans were enrolled. Their present representation is only 5,342 which shows a drop of 28.1 percent in a year.