Enrollment to Drop at a Third of Private Colleges

This new article from Bloomberg reports on a new study from the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). The study, called the "Survey on the Impact of the Economic Recession on Fall 2009 Enrollment, Financial Aid and Budgeting at Independent Colleges and Universities," says that:

* 14% of colleges expect enrollment to drop this year, including one-third of private colleges; and

* Fall semester deposits are down in 44% of colleges, compared to last year.

I don't want to say I told you so, but....

Almost every day, an American newspaper publishes an article about the unaffordability of college. And yet, colleges are mostly silent on the issue, and haven't prepared for it even though it was easily predictable. Maybe it's time for the colleges to create some real affordability initiatives....