Iowa community colleges see small enrollment drop

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Education says enrollment is down a bit at the state’s 15 community colleges.

The 0.6 percent decline in fall enrollment compared to last year is the first drop since 1994.

The Department of Education says the drop followed big increases in recent years, including nearly 6 percent in 2010 and more than 14 percent in 2009.

This year’s enrollment stood at 105,975 students.

The department didn’t speculate on reasons for the enrollment drop.