The Increase in the Number of Postsecondary Institutions in the U.S.

The number of postsecondary institutions grew by 10 percent from 2000 to 2014, mainly as a result of growth in the number of for-profit institutions, according to a new report released today (August 1). The National Center for Education Statistics released a new Data Point report, entitled Change in Number and Types of Postsecondary Institutions: 2000 to 2014. This brief report examines change in the number of postsecondary educational institutions in the U.S. from 2000 to 2014, both overall and among institutions that offer subbaccalaureate occupational education. The data show that from 2000 to 2014, the number of postsecondary institutions overall increased by 672 institutions to a total of 7,151. In that same time period, the number of institutions that offer a subbaccalaureate education grew by 915 institutions for a total of 5,590. All of this growth was in the for-profit sector. This report uses data from NCES's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).