7/30/2026

MICHIGAN - Autistic students are attending college in far greater numbers than previously believed, according to researchers at Michigan State University.

Earlier estimates placed the population of autistic college students as low as 60-thousand nationwide. Those figures were based on old and limited data, including a sample formed more than 25 years ago. M-S-U associate professor Brad Cox began studying autism in higher education after his son was diagnosed at age four. He says the new numbers are dramatically higher than what was previously estimated.

                    0:12  "Our latest study is one that suggests that there may be almost 300,000 autistic undergraduates, currently attending college in the United States. That means that it's a population worth paying attention to."

He says the number may be even higher because many students are undiagnosed or choose not to disclose. Cox adds better data can help colleges secure the right resources and give stronger support to neurodiverse students. Federal law requires K-through-12 schools to identify students with disabilities and provide support. In college, however, students generally must disclose their disability and request accommodations themselves.