College sees enrollment decline again, but retention is up - Conor Morris, Athens News

A sign for Hocking College outside of Light Hall, which serves as home to both administrative offices and a student commons. Hocking College’s problems with declining enrollment have not gone away this fall semester. The college reported Friday that it had 3,041 total enrolled students, down 197 students from the same time last year. However, instead of noting that piece of information immediately in a news release Friday, the college led with more positive news: Its retention rate is up 7.4 percent from the same time last year, to a five-year high of 66 percent. That said, the college’s enrollment of around 3,000 is likely the lowest fall enrollment that Hocking has had in at least a decade, and probably far longer, according to previous Athens NEWS reports. All numbers discussed in this story are per the college’s 15th-day enrollment statistics that are reported to the state each year. http://www.athensnews.com/news/campus/college-sees-enrollment-decline-again-but-retention-is-up/article_c93b041a-7dcc-11e6-8f6e-0ffc77bd5760.html