Enrollment Down at Pennsylvania Universities

The Inquirer reports that enrollment is down at Pennsylvania’s state-supported universities—but then again, enrollment is down everywhere. The state should have 14,000 fewer enrollees by the time the process hits rock bottom.

The Inky adds:

Pennsylvania’s system has been hit particularly hard, in part because of declining-to-flat state funding. The drop has caused universities, some facing deficits, to rethink programs and operations, said system spokesman Kenn Marshall.

“The ultimate goal is to make sure all of our universities are offering an appropriate array of programs. That may mean eliminating some programs, but it may mean creating some new ones.”

A heightened sense of competition is expected.

“Obviously, with everyone competing for a smaller pool of students, everyone is trying to step up their game to try to beat that demographic shift,” said Jeff Hileman, a spokesman for Edinboro University, a Western Pennsylvania school that has weathered one of the largest declines – 18 percent – since 2010.

One exception to this rule: Temple University, which this fall “welcomed its largest class since the recession began.”