The Decline of Higher Education. Southern Illinois University Carbondale sees nearly 12 percent enrollment drop during Fall 2018 semester

The Daily Egyptian reports:

Fall enrollment at Southern Illinois University Carbondale has decreased by nearly 12 percent from the fall 2017 semester, according to university officials.

The campus reached peak enrollment in 1991 with 24,869 students, but enrollment has been decreasing ever since.

This year, the university’s total student enrollment has hit a new low of 12,817 students, surpassing the low set by previous year’s campus fall enrollment of 14,554.

The largest decrease was in the freshman class, which has 410 fewer students than in 2017 — a 23.86 percent drop. The sophomore class saw 232 fewer students, a 12.7 percent drop, and the junior class went down by 395 students, a 15.48 percent lower from 2016.

Total undergraduate enrollment faced a 13.30 percent decline, with 1,449 fewer students than in fall 2017. Total graduate enrollment faced an 8.39 percent decline with 248 fewer students over last fall.

Higher prices and less students.... Imagine that.