University of Missouri enrollment lowest since 2008

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Enrollment at the University of Missouri continued a decline that began after campus protests in November 2015, with this fall’s enrollment the lowest since 2008.

Official numbers released Wednesday show the university attracted 20,870 students this fall, down 12.9 percent since a record set in 2015.

Missouri did slightly better than expected in attracting new freshmen, but the total of 4,134 is down 546 from last fall and 2,060 fewer than 2015.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reported a statement from the school emphasized an 87 percent student-retention rate, the second highest in school history. And the ACT score for the new class averaged 26, higher than state and national averages.

Every class except seniors is smaller than last year, and international enrollments fell 12.1 percent from 2016.

Information from: Columbia Daily Tribune, http://www.columbiatribune.com