Northern Illinois enrollment drops during spring semester

DEKALB, Ill. (AP) - For the first time in at least four years spring enrollment at Northern Illinois University didn't surpass 19,000 students.

NIU has 18,519 students taking classes this semester. The figure is 1,600 students less than in the fall. NIU officials attribute the drop to graduation, transfers and other factors.

The (DeKalb) Daily Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/23UKN4k ) that higher education officials say the enrollment declines are being fueled by factors including lack of funding as the state deals with the lack of a budget. They say out-of-state schools aggressively recruiting Illinois students also is a factor.

NIU spokesman Joe King says the percentage change in student enrollment from fall to spring this year "is almost identical to that of the last few years."

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Information from: The Daily Chronicle, http://www.daily-chronicle.com