Weak economy fuels spring enrollment at Illinois universities

Spring enrollment is up nearly 2 percent at public universities in Illinois, fueled in part by a sluggish job market that is driving more students to the classroom.

Statewide, enrollment climbed by nearly 2,500 students this spring, paced by increases at Northern Illinois University and Eastern Illinois University. The DeKalb campus added 1,017 students compared with a year ago, putting spring enrollment at 23,512. Eastern, in Charleston, has 10,357 students this spring, up 682 from last year.

Only the University of Illinois saw a decrease, where a slight dip of 501 students put spring enrollment at 35,294.

Enrollment has continued an upward trend despite tuition increases of up to 18 percent as universities compensate for dwindling state financial aid.

Historically, college enrollment increases when the economy is bad, said Don Sevener, spokesman for the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

"Anytime you see a downturn in the economy, you get more interest in higher education because it's an alternative to the job market, which is depressed right now," Illinois State University spokesman Jay Groves said Monday.

Continued improvements in academic quality also helped boost ISU's enrollment to 20,253 this spring, up 378 students from a year ago, he said.

Southern Illinois University credited a stronger emphasis on student retention for increases of 538 students at its Edwardsville campus and 115 students at its main campus in Carbondale. A combination of academic and outside-the-classroom programs "keep students engaged in their studies and in the community," said Boyd Bradshaw, assistant vice chancellor for enrollment.

Spring enrollment increased by 266 students at Western Illinois University, which has 12,536 students this spring on its Macomb and Quad Cities campuses.