Enrollment falls at NIU

DEKALB, Ill. — Statistics show enrollment is down at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.

The Daily Chronicle reports 22,990 students were counted at NIU this fall. That’s compared with 23,850 students during the same time last year. That’s a difference of 860 students.

The new figures were released days after NIU President John Peters said he hopes to increase enrollment by 25 percent in less than nine years. Peters wants NIU to have 30,000 students by 2020.

NIU officials blame the lower enrollment on economic troubles and an uncertain employment outlook for teachers.

New student enrollment this fall is 5,161 students. That includes freshmen and transfer students. Graduate enrollment at NIU is 5,365 and the law school has about 320 students.