Education
College Enrollments Sink in the Midwest, Causing Budget Trouble for Schools
- Falling births are a threat and Covid accelerated the decline
- Some schools are weathering crisis by increasing incentives
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The pandemic accelerated a trend that college deans and finance chiefs throughout the U.S. Midwest have been dreading: There are fewer 18-year-olds to fill classrooms, dorms and dining halls.
That means less revenue, increasing the likelihood of budget cuts affecting staff, the curriculum and sports programs, while schools are forced to offer bigger financial incentives to attract students.