Indiana State University’s enrollment is down almost 5 percent from last year and 36 percent since 2018, according to figures released Thursday.
The enrollment of 7,895 reflects issues that affect many regional public universities.
“The comprehensive regional universities seem to be caught between research universities pulling further down their (application) lists and states increasingly moving toward making community college free,” wrote Mary Churchill of Boston University in Inside Higher Ed.
ISU’s new president, Mike Godard, also noted declining college-going rates and falling numbers of traditional college-age people.
“As we continue to navigate the evolving landscape of higher education, Indiana State University will focus on key opportunities: expanding our high-quality programs, strategic program growth to meet workforce needs, and enhancing the globalization of our campus by increasing online and flexible learning opportunities,” Godard said.