University of Akron enrollment climbing

Officials cite economy in expected 7% increase


By Carol Biliczky // The Akron Beacon Journal

Buoyed by a sour economy and the unveiling of a new stadium, enrollment at the University of Akron is expected to surge nearly 7 percent this fall.

While the final numbers won't be available until 14 days after classes start Monday, enrollment could reach 27,400, said Bill Kraus, UA associate vice president for enrollment management.

That would make this fall's student body the largest at UA since 1993, as enrollment continued a downward spiral that bottomed out in 2005 with 22,636 students.

''We anticipate that enrollment will fluctuate from these levels, but we are in the ballpark of what our final increases should be,'' UA spokeswoman Laura Massie said.

UA officials credit the fourth annual year of growth to the sweeping physical changes on campus, the new InfoCision stadium that is to open in September and the lukewarm economy that is prompting students to go to — or back to — college with the hope of getting a leg up on the competition.

Other tax-supported universities are not nearly as optimistic. For example, Cleveland State expects a 4 percent increase, to 16,000; Youngstown State, a 2 percent increase to 14,000; and Miami University, stable enrollment at 16,200 again.

Kent State spokesman Tom Neumann declined to comment about fall enrollment. ''We would prefer to wait and discuss actual numbers,'' he said by e-mail.

Private colleges and universities are more pessimistic, worrying that economic troubles will prompt students to choose lower-cost, tax-supported institutions over them.

''Campuses are waiting to see if cuts in state aid are going to cause 'melt' in returning students, and they won't know that until school starts,'' said spokeswoman Stacey Dorr of the Ohio Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. ''While some campuses are hopeful, others are decidedly pessimistic.''

Still, Malone University expects enrollment to grow almost 5 percent, to about 2,565; Hiram College, up 7 percent to 1,150. Walsh University expects to stay the same with about 1,800 students.

This hasn't been a typical recruiting year for students or college officials, either.

At UA, a large number of students held off committing until April, which is unusually late, Kraus said.

''They were waiting until the end to make their final decision,'' he said. ''Before, they would have been more spread out.''

More students also are citing financial aid as a significant factor in their choice of a college, according to a UA survey of admitted students.

In 2005, the first year of the survey, 63 percent cited the importance of financial aid. This year, the figure was 76 percent, Kraus said.

Conventional wisdom maintains that economic troubles give rise to a trickle-down effect: Some private college students choose lower-cost state schools and students at state schools veer toward even lower-cost community colleges.

That might be happening this time, with Stark State College officials ebullient that they will see growth of at least 10 percent for their associate degree and professional development programs.

That would push last fall's enrollment of 9,395 well over the 10,000-student mark.

''There's a steady flow of students coming in the door,'' Cheri Rice, vice president of student services and enrollment management, said. ''We're very optimistic.''

Carol Biliczky can be reached at 330-996-3729 or cbiliczky@thebeaconjournal.com.