WIU featured in Wall street journal article: America’s College Towns Go From Boom to Bust

WIU featured in Wall street journal article: America’s College Towns Go From Boom to Bust

America's College Towns Go From Boom To Bust

America's regional state universities are experiencing steep enrollment declines, triggering economic crises in the towns that depend on them, while flagship universities continue to thrive. At Western Illinois University in Macomb, enrollment has plummeted 47% since 2010, driving the city's popul...

Shrinking enrollments are forcing local businesses and universities to confront a new reality

The Education Magazine May 20, 2025 Over many years, Western Illinois University’s student body has served as a major economic driver for the town of Macomb. Cafes thrived. Apartments filled up by August. Local retail shops timed their inventory around the semester schedule. The rhythm is absent today. The rationale is evident: declining college enrollment disproportionately impacts communities such as Macomb. Over the past twenty years, Western…