The University of Montana announced today that enrollment is still declining, with this fall semester's headcount down nearly 600 students since last fall. Total current enrollment is now at just over 13,000.
Enrollment at Montana State University grew by 267 students over last year, and is at an all time high with over 15, 600 students total. UM says part of the reason for this disparity is because more students are interested in engineering degrees like those offered at MSU.
The school says other factors like the declining numbers of high school graduates in the state as well as the dreaded possibility of student loan debt are also keeping students from applying.
The number of graduate students at U-M grew by two percent.
UM President Royce Engstrom says they have made significant changes in the past several years to respond to enrollment challenges and to ensure that more students who come to UM are prepared, stay and are successful,
Despite the low attendance numbers, philanthropy at UM is up. The university received just over $52 million from over 14, 000 donors for 2015.