** I suspect that a LOT of schools are down in attendance, simply because they are running out of rubes. **
I work at a school in the SEC. We are bursting at the seams. Just enrolled a record level freshman class.
Maybe some are from Missouri.
There was a large and very nice catholic college in Springfield, KY that closed at the end of last year. Campbellsville University (in campbellsville) took the remaining 500 or so students. It’s about 25 miles from Springfield.
I think there will be a shakeup in higher education where the ones that teach “hard skills” will increase while the “general degree” mills will lose students.
This year CU-Boulder enrolled a record freshman class...breaking last year’s record. They are going to spend $60+MM on a new dorm to house more little socialist in waiting.