The University of Missouri-Columbia, the state’s flagship education institution, is expecting at least a 14-percent decline in incoming freshmen this fall, resulting in its smallest class in nearly 20 years.
Administrators project that about 4,000 freshmen will enroll in August, about 700 less than in 2016 and significantly lower than in 2015, when more than 6,000 enrolled.
The shrinking numbers have been tied at least partly to the protests on campus in 2015 that followed reports of racism on and near campus. The school issued a news release Friday afternoon that mentions the enrollment decline only indirectly.
“A class of this size gives us the ability to think carefully about our long-term enrollment planning,” said Garnett Stokes, interim chancellor, in a prepared statement.
“As part of our planning process, we will be determining the optimum freshman class size for fall 2018 and future years. This will help us develop and create strong and renewable resources, targeting our students’ best interests as we educate the future leaders of our state and nation.”
The news release focuses on the university’s success in retaining students, with 94 percent re-enrolling. The school also said it is maintaining high academic quality, with incoming freshmen posting an average ACT score of 25.5.
Last week, curators of the University of Missouri four-campus system were alerted to a $9 million expected decline in tuition revenue at Mizzou. At the time, enrollment estimates were not available.
The financial strain is on top of state budget reductions from Jefferson City.