Enrollment of incoming freshman has been down at Eastern Illinois U.

There are several reasons as to why this phenomenon is happening.

In harsh economic conditions, high school students find it difficult to afford college, especially state universities or private institutions where the tuition is high.

Some turn to community college to earn credits or receive scholarships before they enroll to higher institutions.

Going to technical school or earning an associate’s degree are other options that students are considering.

Other students don’t attend college after high school to work in jobs that will earn money for college expenses or to simply take a break from schooling.

The economic hardships that high school students face today not only tosses an uncertainty on students’ education after high school, but also leaves their families in the dark when it comes to finances.

Parents have to deal with house payments, insurance payments and taxes; these issues address the entire household.

Imagine the pressure that is added on to parents to find the right path for their children’s future.

With concerned parents debating on whether or not college is necessary for their children, some are pressured to convince their children to pursue alternative options.

Pressure on the parents can also depend on the number of children that live within a household.

More children within one household usually cause parents to explore multiple, and cheaper, alternatives to higher education.

If a household only has one or two children, parents may be able to afford college tuition.

Both lower-class and middle-class are struggling with receiving financial assistance for college.

Low- income families are able to apply for financial aid grants, but financial aid may not be enough to cover all of the college expenses.

Some who are in low class situations may have more difficulty during high school and this can lead to low test scores and grades that will forfeit their chances at getting into college.

Students from middle-income families can have good grades, but these students may not qualify for federal grants.

This will cause middle-class families to worry about private loans and paying those off after graduation.

One option to fix the low rate of incoming freshman is to provide more scholarships to all students, but even this can be a challenge for colleges who are having difficulty earning more funds.

Unless the economy shows some improvements, the rate of incoming students may remain low.