Robert Bohrer II President | Hiram College
Robert Bohrer II President | Hiram College
Of the three institutions in the county, two provided detailed enrollment data at the time, including Hiram College and Kent State University at Kent.
At least 22,265 people applied to Portage County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 26,872 students enrolled in the universities, including 21,420 in undergraduate and 5,452 in graduate programs. Only 3.2% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (73.5%) and Black or African American (8.9%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Kent State University at Kent stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 25,854 students.
U.S. college enrollment has been in a downward trend since peaking at around 18.1 million students in 2010. Recent increases offered some relief, but experts project a steeper decline in 2025.
This decline is likely due to two main factors. First, the pool of young adults is shrinking as birth rates have fallen nearly 23% between 2007 and 2022. Second, the rising cost of higher education, including skyrocketing student loan debt. A 2023 Wall Street Journal report shows that more than half of Americans think a four-year degree is not worth the cost.
NCES shows that enrollment data was not available for Northeast Ohio Medical University in Portage County.
Some educational data is based on estimates. Shifting demographics among student populations can sometimes result in gender totals which do not equal 100%.
| Institution | # of Applicants | # of Admitted Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent State University at Kent | 20,369 | 17,925 | 25,854 |
| Hiram College | 1,896 | 1,763 | 1,018 |
| Northeast Ohio Medical University | -- | -- | -- |
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