STATE COLLEGE ENROLLMENT ON DECLINE FOR FIRST TIME IN YEARS

(11/20/2013)

WVs Higher Education Policy Commission says college enrollment is declining in the Mountain State for the first time in years, a state that already has low numbers of college graduates. The decrease is 2.3 percent. The commission was told this week that enrollment is particularly down in areas of the state that population has declined and areas where employment is high with the Marcellus gas boom. Several proposals have been made to close some of the state operated colleges. Even enrollment at West Virginia University and Marshall University declined. Enrollment at some of the state's private schools is on the rise, including the University of Charleston and West Virginia Wesleyan College. Nationally, college enrollment fell this year for the first time since 2006, according to Census Bureau data just released. At WVU, about 200 fewer students are attending this semester than last fall, a decrease of 0.8 percent. Marshall University is looking at 2 percent decrease. Glenville State College enrollment hasn't budged. While more students have been attending the college over recent years, Glenville is projecting a flat enrollment. West Virginia State University increased first-time freshmen enrollment by more than 48 percent over that new enrollment a year ago under new leadership. The University of Charleston says it has the highest enrollment since 1974, and Wesleyan is dealing with its largest incoming class in 10 years.

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