When high school seniors toss their caps in the air, the moment symbolizes more than academic achievement. It signals possibility—the next step toward college, career training, military service, or entering the workforce. Yet, graduation is not the finish line. Postsecondary enrollment is a vital step toward long-term success, and the systems around our young people play a defining role in whether they can access that opportunity.
What is Postsecondary Enrollment?
Postsecondary Enrollment in Brown County refers to the number of Brown County public high school graduates from the county who enroll in a postsecondary education program in the fall immediately after their graduation. These postsecondary education programs include both 2-year college or 4-year university which could be either public or private in Wisconsin or out-of-state.
Why Postsecondary Enrollment Matters
National research by StriveTogether underscores that postsecondary enrollment is a powerful predictor of economic and social advancement. A large and growing share of future jobs will require some form of education beyond high school—whether a four-year degree, a two-year technical program, or industry-recognized certification. Young people who enroll are more likely to secure jobs with stability, upward mobility, and benefits.1
But enrollment isn’t just about access, it’s about equity. Young people experiencing poverty, as well as Black and Latine students, consistently enroll at lower rates. Even when these young people achieve high academic performance, they are still less likely to enroll in college compared to their affluent peers.1 When they do enroll, they are more likely to attend two-year institutions and less likely to enter selective colleges. The barriers they face—rising tuition, complex financial aid processes, lack of targeted support—are systemic, not individual.
That’s why Achieve Brown County emphasizes tracking postsecondary enrollment rates locally and disaggregating data by race, income, gender, and disability status. Doing so helps communities like ours identify inequities and design solutions that make opportunities accessible for every student.
The Local Picture: Brown County Enrollment Trends
In Brown County, the data tells a concerning story. Achieve Brown County analyzed postsecondary enrollment for Brown County public high school graduates from 2020 to 2024.
After a slow decline from 2020 – 2022, there was a brief rebound in 2023 and then an immediate enrollment dropped after.
In 2024, only 55.2% of graduates (1594 young people) enrolled in postsecondary education—the lowest rate in five years.
These numbers represent more than percentages. They represent real young people—some who are supported to continue their education, and others who face barriers that make that path out of reach.
“Every percentage point represents a young person making one of the most important decisions of their life,” said Atithi Ghimire, Data Manager at Achieve Brown County. “When we see persistent gaps by race, income, or disability status, it’s a clear signal that our systems need to change, not our young people.”
Equity Gaps
Despite slight fluctuations, Brown County continues to see consistent and troubling equity gaps in postsecondary enrollment.
Race/Ethnicity
In 2024, White youth enrolled at the highest rate at 56%, while American Indian students enrolled at the lowest rate, just 15%—a 41-point gap.
Economic Status
Youth not experiencing economic disadvantage enrolled at 65%, compared to youth who are experiencing economic disadvantage that enrolled at 35%. That is a 30 point gap.
Disability Status
Enrollment for youth with disabilities sits at 19% in 2024 (a sharp drop from 33% in 2023), compared to 42% for youth without disabilities.
Gender
Female high school graduates out-enrolled male graduates every year. In 2024, the gap was 13 points (62% female vs. 49% male).
Possible Contributors on Enrollment Rates
There are a few possible reasons we are seeing recent declines in enrollment rates in Brown County. The list below includes topics that are being discussed at the national scale and could have an influence on our Brown County students.
- FAFSA Rollout Challenges – The redesigned “Better FAFSA” opened three months late and had technical issues, leaving many young people, especially first-generation and low-income, without timely aid information.
- COVID Cohort Impacts – The class of 2024 began high school during the pandemic, carrying forward academic disruptions, stress, and uncertainty into their post-graduation plans.
- Economic Pressures – Rising living costs and tuition increases forced many young people, particularly from low-income families, to choose immediate work over education, deepening existing enrollment gaps.
These systemic barriers matter. They reflect conditions far beyond individual choice, reminding us that equitable postsecondary access requires intentional support at every level.
Why It Matters for Our Community
StriveTogether’s Postsecondary Enrollment Guide reminds us that this outcome is essential not only for the success of young people but for the economic vitality of entire communities. The workforce is shifting rapidly toward jobs that require technical knowledge and advanced training.1 If young people in Brown County are not enrolling in postsecondary pathways, they risk being left behind in an economy that increasingly demands higher skills.
The national data shows that adults with higher levels of education are more likely to be employed and to earn more over their lifetimes. In 2021, employment rates for adults between the ages of 25 and 64 rose steadily with education: 67% for high school graduates, 76% for those with an associate degree, and 83% for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher. These differences translate into not only individual stability, but also stronger local economies.3
Research from the Brookings Institution shows that a bachelor’s degree holder contributes, on average, $278,000 more to local economies through lifetime spending than a high school graduate. Even an associate degree adds $81,000 in local economic impact. Similarly, a study from Brown University found that attending a public four-year institution boosts a student’s household income around age 30 by 20%, with even larger gains for students from low-income high schools. 3
Community colleges also play a critical role. Former community college students have contributed more than $800 billion in added income to the national economy. For every $1 students invest in their education, they receive nearly $5 in additional future income, while society as a whole benefits from over $1 trillion in added income, reduced crime, lower unemployment, and improved health and well-being. 3
Taken together, these findings underscore that postsecondary enrollment is not simply a personal choice—it is a community and economic imperative. At Achieve Brown County, we believe that every young person should have the opportunity to pursue education beyond high school, ensuring that every young person in Brown County has knowledge, strength, and support to thrive, both for their own future and the long-term prosperity of our entire region.
Want to explore more?
- Check out our interactive Youth Outcome Dashboard to dive deeper into postsecondary enrollment trends and equity gaps in Brown County.
- Explore StiveTogether’s Postsecondary Enrollment Guide for National recommendations on how to track postsecondary indicators.
- Join an upcoming Intro to Achieve Brown County session to get connected with the people in our community who are working to make sure Brown County is a place where all young people can thrive.
Stay Connected to Achieve Brown County
- Sign up for our newsletter
- Attend an upcoming Intro to Achieve Brown County session
- Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn
Work Cited
- StriveTogether. Cradle-to-Career Outcomes Data Guides: Postsecondary Enrollment. 2024. https://www.strivetogether.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/StriveTogether-Cradle-to-Career-Outcomes-Data-Guides-Postsecondary-Enrollment.pdf ↩︎
- StriveTogether. Cradle-to-Career Outcomes Data Guides: Postsecondary Enrollment. 2024. https://www.strivetogether.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/StriveTogether-Cradle-to-Career-Outcomes-Data-Guides-Postsecondary-Enrollment.pdf ↩︎
- StriveTogether. Cradle-to-Career Outcomes Data Guides: Postsecondary Enrollment. 2024. https://www.strivetogether.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/StriveTogether-Cradle-to-Career-Outcomes-Data-Guides-Postsecondary-Enrollment.pdf ↩︎