New data from an education research nonprofit shows college enrollment saw a sharp drop in spring of this year, which compared to the decline a year earlier is about seven times worse. According to a report from the National Student Clearinghouse, released on June 10, overall spring enrollment in programs at U.S. colleges saw a one-year decline of 3.5 percent, or 603,000 students. That’s down to 16.9 million students from 17.5 million a year ago in spring. Undergraduate enrollment saw an even sharper decline, falling by 4.9 percent, or by 727,000 students. Community colleges bore the brunt of the decline, accounting for over 65 percent of the total undergrad enrollment losses and a 13.2 percent one-year drop. By contrast, graduate enrollment ticked up, with a one-year rise of 4.6 percent, or just over 124,000 students, according to the report. The pandemic was a major factor, according to the National Student …