Southeast enrollment remains at historic highs

Southeast Missouri State University recently announced the end of a really, really good run.

For the first time since 1994, Southeast saw its enrollment drop.

That is an amazing track record. What organization wouldn't be ecstatic with 21 straight years of growth?

But it was a very small blip from last year, and still came in at the second highest first-day enrollment in the school's history.

The fall enrollment at the university was 11,411 as of Tuesday, which was a 1.5 percent drop, or 169 students.

The university saw tremendous growth in the past two decades, thanks partially to an aggressive recruiting approach outside the region, including attracting international students as well as drawing thousands of students from the St. Louis market. The Southeast Missouri region could not support such growth on its own. The strategic recruitment paid off.

A good portion of the drop is attributable to an improving economy. The unemployment rate has dropped and fewer nontraditional adult students are seeking educational opportunities.

The first drop in attendance since 1994 is akin to the end of a long winning streak in a sport. It's newsworthy that the growth trend has ended, but the student body remains at historic highs.