Since fall 2001, enrollment at Missouri Southern has been on the downward slope.

University administrators said there are a variety of reasons for the decline, including higher tuition, a struggling economy, a stricter admission policy and competition from two-year colleges.

Sarah Reed, senior general studies major, said the lower enrollment is due to increased tuition.

She said Southern’s tuition is no longer considered cheap but “mediocre” compared to other universities. Reed said she would consider going somewhere else, but she only has about 30 credit hours left.

“I have to finish it here,” Reed said. “I have no other choice.”

Crystal Hoyt, sophomore mass communications major, decided to attend Southern because it is close to where her family lives.

She also said the higher tuition could be to blame for students not returning to Southern.

“If tuition goes up, they’ll be driving a lot of students out,” Hoyt said.

She receives help from federal grants, but said the grants may not cover the cost of an increasing tuition.

“If the tuition gets to a certain point, I might think about switching colleges,” she said.

The University had 5,823 students enrolled in fall 2002. That number has dropped to 5,410 this semester.

Of those, 1,015 are first-time freshmen or transfers. Of those students who were here in fall 2002, 53 percent of them returned this semester. However, 63 percent of those who were first-time freshmen in fall 2002 returned this semester. Tuition has gradually increased from $90 per credit hour in fall 2001 to $127 per credit hour this semester.

Dr. Betsy Griffin, interim vice president for academic affairs, said the drop in enrollment is not a big concern.

“We’re not panicking,” Griffin said. “We go up and down a little bit; that’s natural.”

Griffin agreed tuition was one of the factors that affected enrollment, but said she doesn’t think the University can afford to stop raising tuition.

“I think we’ll try to hold the line and try not to increase it anymore than absolutely necessary,” she said.

Derek Skaggs, director of enrollment services, said the reason for a decline in student numbers is fourfold.

Admission requirements have become stricter. The economy as a whole is suffering. Cost of tuition is increasing. And, the A + programs for high school students offer scholarships toward technical colleges only.

Dr. Delores Honey, assistant vice president for assessment and institutional research, said enrollment should be looked at over a long-term period.

“I look at the opportunities to bounce back,” Honey said. “I honestly believe we will.”

Enrollment may be going down for Southern, but two-year colleges in the area are having an increase in enrollment.

Crowder College has grown from 2,344 students in fall 2002 to 2,616 this semester.

Many of the other higher education institutions in the area are also having an increase in enrollment.

Ozark Christian College experienced record enrollment this fall going from 799 to 847 students.

Southwest Missouri State University went from 18,916 students in fall 2002 to 19,116.

The University of Arkansas increased from 16,035 to 16,449. Northeastern Oklahoma A & M College went up from 1,963 to 2,102.

Enrollment figures are not in for Pittsburg State University yet.

“Our competition is more with Pitt State because they’re closer,” Griffin said.

She said she’s biased toward Southern over other colleges or universities because of the “individual attention” she thinks Southern offers to its students.