EMPLOYEE RETENTION
After several years of consecutive decline, undergraduate enrollment in Greater Grand Rapids increased 27% (1,273 students) from 2022 to 2024. Enrollment declines generally track fluctuations in population. Nationally, undergraduate enrollment declined 5.3% from 2015 to 2024. Likewise, high school enrollment across the region declined in line with national youth population trends. In 2016, area high schools enrolled 55,969 students. By 2025, that number shrank 5% to 53,234. Nationally, the trend is reversed with high school enrollment increasing 2% during the same timeframe. Though, national enrollment has steadily declined since 2021. The population continues to be better educated. The share of people with a bachelor’s degree or higher increased 8 percentage points to 37% from 2015 to 2025.
University Undergraduate Enrollment in GGR
Source: IPEDS 2024 represents the most recent data available. See appendix for a full list of colleges/universities.
Non-Private High School Enrollment in GGR
Source: MISchooldata.org; See appendix for a list of the intermediate school districts included in the data.
Educational Attainment in GGR
37% SHARE OF PEOPLE WITH A BACHELOR’S DEGREE OR HIGHER IN GGR: AN INCREASE OF EIGHT PERCENTAGE POINTS FROM 2015 TO 2025
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Source: Lightcast
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