<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Higher education in the United States is an optional final stage of formal learning following secondary education . Higher education, also referred to as post-secondary education, third stage, third level, or tertiary education occurs most commonly at one of the 4,726 Title IV degree - granting institutions, either colleges or universities in the country . These may be public universities, private universities, liberal arts colleges, community colleges, or for - profit colleges . High visibility issues include greater use of the Internet, such as massive open online courses, competency - based education, sexual assault, cutbacks in state and local spending, rapidly rising tuition and increasing student loan debt </P> <P> According to the National Student Clearinghouse, US college enrollment has declined for five consecutive years and is projected to continue declining for the next two decades . This decline, attributed to falling birth rates, amounts to a 2.5 million loss in enrollment from the peak year of 2010 - 2011 . </P>

How many institutions of higher education in the us