The Upside of Down: Postsecondary Enrollment in the Great Recession
There have been large increases in two-year, four-year public and four-year private college enrollment since the start of the Great Recession—slightly larger than expected based on the historical relationships between unemployment and enrollment, and significantly larger than expected if the unemployment rate had remained at 2007 levels. The increased enrollment may lead to a net lifetime benefit of roughly $3.3 billion overall, or $1,500 for each person who enrolled.
