Students With Disabilities in Higher Education: Facts and Statistics

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. (24.8%) has a disability.^[5] Despite how common disabilities are, society and institutions — like higher education — sometimes fail to provide adequate accommodations or truly inclusive spaces for all to participate equally.

College students with disabilities have a variety of experiences. This report shares statistics about students with disabilities in higher education to better understand the prevalence of disabilities and the state of disability inclusion on college campuses.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 19% of undergraduate and 12% of graduate students reported having a disability in the 2015-2016 school year. Students’ veteran status and age correlated to higher rates of reported disability.^{Note Reference [1]}

NCES’ count of students with disabilities includes those who reported being Deaf or hard of hearing; being blind or having low vision; having a learning disability; having a physical, mental, or emotional condition; or having difficulty walking or climbing stairs.

In 2022, the American College Health Association (ACHA) surveyed 54,000 undergraduates. It found:^{Note Reference [2]}

Though not reported here, the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) also covers psychiatric disabilities, such as anxiety, addiction, and PTSD. You can learn more about the prevalence of these and other mental health conditions in our report, College Student Mental Health Statistics.

Transgender and gender-nonconforming college students report experiencing disabilities at higher rates than their cisgender peers.^{Note Reference [2]}

People with disabilities tend to graduate high school and college at lower rates than people without disabilities. However, the number of people with disabilities earning bachelor’s degrees has increased substantially over the years.

Among students served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act who left school in 2019-2020:^[9]

For reference, the high school graduation rate among all 18-24-year-olds was about 94% in 2019, according to NCES.^[10]

About half (49.5%) of students with disabilities who enrolled at a four-year college in 2011 completed a bachelor’s degree within six years versus roughly 68% of students without disabilities.^{Note Reference [3]}

According to the 2023 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium report analyzing U.S. census data:^[11]

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is about double that for people without disabilities (7.6% vs. 3.5%).^[12]

The unemployment rate for people with disabilities drops with higher levels of education. Even so, bachelor’s degree-holders with disabilities face higher unemployment rates than those without disabilities.

People with disabilities who are employed are more likely to be self-employed than people without disabilities (9.5% vs. 6.1%). They’re also almost twice as likely to work part time, reports the BLS. (30% vs. 16%).^{Note Reference [12]}

Like all students, students with disabilities can receive free financial aid for college, such as scholarships and grants. Sometimes, people with disabilities that impact their ability to work can qualify for student loan forgiveness.

NCES survey data from the 2015-2016 school year shows that college undergraduates with a disability report receiving similar levels of federal grant funding as other students. However, they receive less financial aid from their schools on average and less grant funding overall.

If you’re planning to pay for college, you have options. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to see if you qualify for certain grants.

Also, check out our list of scholarships for students with disabilities. These scholarships are sponsored by various organizations and are specifically for students with different disabilities.

If you have a disability that prevents you from working and you have student loan debt, you could qualify for loan forgiveness through a Total and Permanent Disability Discharge (TPD).

You could be eligible for a TPD if:

Colleges have work to do when it comes to access and inclusion for students with disabilities. Here’s some of the latest research on disability inclusion in higher education.

In a peer-reviewed 2022 study, researchers graded 50 top-funded undergraduate programs on an A-F letter scale measuring accessibility, accommodations, and reputation for inclusion.

Just 6% received an A. Sixty percent received a D.^[14]

A 2021 research brief published by the National Center for College Students With Disabilities analyzed survey data from 54,000 students. The analysis showed that compared to peers without disabilities, students with disabilities had a significantly lower sense of belonging at their schools. They also reported higher rates of discrimination on campus.

Students who reported experiencing the most discrimination were students with speech, language, neurological, and learning conditions.^[15]

Department of Education (ED) research found that only 37% of students with a disability reported their disability to their college.^{Note Reference [4]}

Additionally, a Mental Health America survey of 471 college students with mental health disabilities found that 70% didn’t register for accommodations from their school. These students reported not believing they were sick enough (41%), not knowing accommodations existed (33%), and being afraid to talk to professors about accommodations (26%).^[16]

The same ED study as above found that even when students do report their disability, many don’t receive accommodations. Just 85% of students at four-year colleges and 57% of students at two-year schools received accommodations after reporting their disability.^{Note Reference [4]}

Students in Mental Health America’s survey suggested the following to improve accessibility for students with mental health disabilities:^{Note Reference [16]}

We’ve designed several guides with resources for college students navigating accommodations at their colleges. Find them listed below. Then, learn how to register for accommodations through your school’s disability services.