College enrollment has reached so high NOT because of

College enrollment has reached an all-time high in the United States. About 40% of all 18 to 24-year-olds—or almost 11. 5 million—were in school in October of last year. The number of young adults that have finished high school is also now at a record all-time high. Almost 85% of America’s young adults have finished high school. That means they’re college eligible. (9)So part of the reason college enrollments are at an all-time high is because the pool of youth that’s eligible to go to college is also at an all-time high. Another reason for the enrollment increase: the recession. The unemployment rate reached a twenty-six year high in October. The economic downturn has hit young adults especially hard. Their job-holding rate is almost at the lowest point in nearly fifty years. In a poor job market, (10) many people turn to higher education, especially at two-year colleges. These schools, known as community colleges,have had the greatest enrollment increase. They offer professional training and traditionally cost a lot less than programs at four-year schools.