University enrolment in N.S. rebounds after COVID-19 dip last year

For many Nova Scotia universities, enrolment numbers are back to pre-pandemic levels after student counts waned in 2020.

This week, the Association of Atlantic Universities released the results of its survey on preliminary student enrolment, which includes figures from Nova Scotia's 10 universities as of Oct. 1.  

Overall, full-time undergraduate and graduate enrolment in Nova Scotia increased 3.8 per cent from the same time last year. The jump more than counterbalances the 2.9 per cent dip recorded early in the 2020-2021 academic year.

Not every university benefited equally, however.

NSCAD and Cape Breton University were hit hardest by the pandemic in the 2020-2021 academic year, reporting full-time enrolment declines of 16.2 per cent and 25.8 per cent, respectively.

This year, both schools saw enrolment rise, but nowhere near as much as it dropped the year prior. NSCAD enrolment increased 3.6 per cent and CBU's increased four per cent.

St. Francis Xavier (up 7.8 per cent), the University of King's College (up seven per cent) and Saint Mary's (up 4.7 per cent) saw the largest gains, after dropping 3.2 per cent, 1.1 per cent and 3.6 per cent, respectively, the year before.