Even College Students Are Getting Lonely By Not Hanging Out

College students in the United States are spending significantly less time socializing and facing increased loneliness than past generations.

A comprehensive analysis by UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute and other academic bodies reveals a structural shift in campus social life driven by smartphones, pandemic disruptions, and evolving extracurricular priorities. This trend matters as it signals a departure from the traditionally social nature of college, with implications for student well-being and campus culture.

Data show that the percentage of seniors partying more than six hours weekly is projected to drop from 32% in 1994 to 21% in 2026, while those socializing face-to-face for over six hours has fallen from 74% to 65%. Isolation among first-year students has more than doubled in two decades, with about half of students reporting loneliness even before the pandemic. Remote learning has increased, from 15% pre-pandemic to 24% in 2024, further reducing in-person interactions. Universities, including Colgate and USC, are experimenting with new designs and strategies to foster casual encounters and social engagement.

Some recent data indicate loneliness rates may be slightly declining toward pre-pandemic levels, but the issue remains pervasive.

Even College Students Have Stopped Hanging Out
By Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic