According to a recent survey conducted by the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) and the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Board, the number of firs-time grad student fell 1.1 percent from fall 2009 to fall 2010, despite a 8.4 percent increase in applications.
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The decline in enrollment is upsetting when The Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimates that an additional 2.5 million jobs will require advanced degrees by 2018.
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Of the approximately 1,950 colleges and universities in the U.S. that offer graduate degree programs, 655 responded to the survey. They reported a combined total of 1.77 million applications for fall 2010. 42 percent, or about 741,000 students were accepted, but only about 445,000 enrolled.
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The authors of the study indicate a significant drop in part-time graduate enrollment, which fell by 8.5 percent, fueled the decline.
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The cost of graduate school, coupled with a fluctuating and uncertain economic climate were also contributing factors to the decline.
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Council president Debra Stewart told the New York Times that the decrease was most evident in the areas of public administration, business and education.