This study examined the impact of high education costs on tertiary institution students’ enrollment in Plateau State, Nigeria. It investigated how rising education costs affected student enrollment patterns. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design, enabling an empirical analysis of the correlation between education costs and enrollment trends in tertiary institutions within the state. The population consisted of 2,339 students and administrative staff across eight tertiary institutions, with a sample size of 342 determined using Taro Yamane’s formula. A structured questionnaire, Impact of High Education Cost on Enrollment of Students in Tertiary Institutions in Plateau State Questionnaire (IHECESTIPSQ), was employed for data collection, alongside a proforma to analyze enrollment trends from 2014 to 2024. The questionnaire consisted of 25 items structured on a 5-point Likert scale. Validity was established through expert review, while reliability was confirmed using the Cronbach Alpha method. Data collection was facilitated by trained research assistants, ensuring a 100% return rate. The study’s findings provided insights into the extent to which financial constraints influenced students’ access to tertiary education, offering recommendations to policymakers and educational stakeholders on addressing affordability challenges in higher education.