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A recent report from the Virginia General Assembly’s watchdog agency, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, found that seven of the state’s 39 public universities should be monitored more closely as the demographic enrollment cliff approaches, Cardinal News reported.

The report noted that although none of the state-supported colleges is in danger of closing, three of the seven have “some viability risk.” 

The seven are: Christopher Newport University, Longwood University, Norfolk State University, the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Radford University, the University of Mary Washington and Virginia State University—the latter three of which are at greatest risk.

Universities were evaluated on eight factors: enrollment, retention, graduation rates, pricing power, facility age/condition, state funds per student, endowment and financial ratios or pricing power, meaning the school’s ability “to charge enough tuition to support the institution’s operations and enroll enough students willing and able to pay that tuition.”

Based on the results, the report poses policy questions for state legislators and the governor to consider, including: How much can and should the state spend to support higher education? What, if anything, should the state do to intervene in a free market where some schools are growing and others are shrinking? And should the state cut tuition for out-of-state students as a way to attract more of them?

Over all, the report shows that the big schools are getting bigger as the small schools are getting smaller.

“Enrollment is a critical indicator of the appeal of and student demand for a higher education institution and is an essential revenue source … If enrollment declines, tuition and fee revenue declines,” the report reads. “This trend is not unique to Virginia. Large and flagship institutions have generally experienced enrollment growth nationwide, while many smaller, regional institutions have experienced enrollment declines.” 

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