News Highlights

Economy could send university enrollment up -- or down

The economy might cause Minnesota State Mankato enrollment to increase this fall, or it might cause it to shrink, The Free Press reports.

2009-06-11
By Robb Murray, Free Press Staff Writer [published in The Free Press, Mankato, MN, and The Associated Press, 6/11/2009]

On one hand, Minnesota State University will benefit from the economy as some students who had planned to attend private colleges opt instead for the much cheaper state university.

But on the other hand, MSU will lose students who opt instead to attend a two-year college.

By next fall, when students actually arrive on campus and accurate numbers can be obtained, MSU officials hope to come out a little ahead.

“We’re definitely expecting to gain a little bit in this type of a market,” said Brian Jones, MSU’s acting admissions director. “And last year was a good year for us.”

Very good, actually. Last fall, MSU saw its second largest freshmen class ever with 2,332 students. (The biggest class, of more than 2,500 students, came in during the 1980s.)

In a survey released this week, 71 percent of high schools reported that more of their students are forgoing their “dream schools” this year than in previous years. And there is little doubt money is a big reason.

For the complete Free Press story, go to http://www.mankatofreepress.com/local/local_story_161225342.html
 

For more Free Press news go to http://www.mankatofreepress.com/

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