Dr. Mark A. Sorrells, President | Fayetteville Technical Community College
Dr. Mark A. Sorrells, President | Fayetteville Technical Community College
Of the seven institutions in the county, three provided detailed enrollment data at the time, including Manna University, Fayetteville State University and Methodist University.
At least 6,538 people applied to Cumberland County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 19,616 students enrolled in the universities, including 18,109 in undergraduate and 1,507 in graduate programs. In total 14% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of Black or African American (43.6%) and white (30.4%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Fayetteville Technical Community College stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 10,233 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville Technical Community College | -- | -- | 10,233 |
| Methodist University | 2,397 | 1,822 | 1,811 |
| Manna University | 25 | 25 | 256 |
| Miller-Motte College-Fayetteville | -- | -- | 191 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Fayetteville | -- | -- | 186 |
| Carolina College of Biblical Studies | -- | -- | 152 |
| Fayetteville State University | 4,116 | 3,334 | 6,787 |
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