Kolkata sees 56,000 drop in degree college enrolment over five years

Student enrolment across the 142 general degree colleges affiliated with the University of Calcutta has seen a sharp decline over the past five years. During the COVID-19 period, as many as 1.32 lakh students enrolled in the first semester of the 2021–22 academic year. However, this number has steadily fallen in the years since.

The drop is particularly striking given the consistent output from school education. Every year, around 6.5 to 7 lakh students appear for the higher secondary examinations, with pass percentages hovering close to 90 percent. In addition, there are students from ISC and CBSE Class XII boards as well, making the pool of eligible college applicants even larger.

ALSO READ | Goa Board HSSC Result 2026 out with 92.9% pass rate — check your score now

Despite this, enrolment figures have continued to shrink. From 1.32 lakh students in 2021–22, the number has dropped to just 76,000 in the first semester of the 2025–26 academic year—a decline of nearly 56,000 students.

This raises key questions about the shifting trends in higher education.

Why are general degree colleges witnessing such a steep fall in admissions?

Where are students from Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, South 24 Parganas, and other districts heading instead? The data points to a significant change in student preferences and choices, the reasons for which remain a matter of concern.

College principals and university vice-chancellors have various opinions on this matter. Some say that private universities offer placement opportunities at minimum salaries after completing general degree courses. But in government and aided colleges, these are completely out of reach.

Others say that for several years now, there has been a shortage of adequate permanent jobs in government schools and colleges in the state. So for those families facing financial constraints, the gig economy has now become a major source of hope. That is, short-term project-based and independent work instead of conventional jobs. Which mainly happens through online platforms. The more you work, the more you earn.

Therefore, many students from middle-class and lower-middle-class families in the state are not as interested in admission to the top-tier colleges approved by the University of Calcutta as before. Instead, they are enrolling in local and district colleges. So interest in studying is declining in many colleges in the city and suburbs. Again, private institution authorities say that it's not just colleges and universities. From schools itself, the trend toward admission to private institutions instead of government ones is increasing for various reasons. Private schools, colleges and universities are much more disciplined. Due to timely admission, syllabus completion, examinations and result publication, parents are admitting their children there despite financial problems.

ALSO READ | What led to Nahoum & Sons’ 5-day shutdown? LPG gas shortage or bigger issue- here's what we know

University of Calcutta Vice-Chancellor Ashutosh Ghosh said on Saturday, "For several years now, students' interest in admission to government degree colleges has been low. The demand for employment-oriented courses is increasing right after higher secondary. Government and aided general degree colleges have relatively fewer such opportunities. Therefore, a large portion of science students are mainly enrolling in computer science, information technology, cybercrime data science at private universities and colleges instead of government and aided colleges, while many female students are also enrolling in nursing courses."

However, he himself is uncertain about the destination of arts students. In his words, "Arts students have virtually no opportunity for admission to such job-oriented courses in the city's private institutions. It needs to be examined which courses they are enrolling in." Though Lady Brabourne College Principal Shiuli Sarkar strikes a different note.

She informed that private universities and colleges in the city and suburbs are providing some employment opportunities to arts students after course completion. We cannot do anything. The students who are enrolling in government and aided colleges are coming only for higher education.

After passing BA-MA, they take scholarships and go elsewhere. Former Pro-Vice-Chancellor of University of Calcutta and Pro-Chancellor of Sister Nivedita University Dhrubjyoti Chattopadhyay says, "Private institutions have modernized their syllabi. In line with the new education policy, there are opportunities to study music with computer science and dance with physics. Along with such interdisciplinary courses, there are also various extracurricular activities. As a result, despite various disadvantages, the demand for admission to private institutions is increasing compared to government institutions."