Nearly one-third of private colleges will see a drop in freshman enrollment this fall, as families continue to experience tough economic times.

Here are some findings from the National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities survey of 284 schools:

• New undergraduate student enrollment will fall more than 5% for 14% of the schools surveyed.
• 19% of schools say their enrollment will decline from 1% to 5%.
• Nearly 45% of the schools say tuition deposits for the fall semester have declined from a year ago.
• Total enrollment will see an average increase of 0.2% from a year ago.
• Close to 85% of the schools say student applications for financial aid are up compared to a year ago.

(For the full survey results, click here.)

Is your school expecting a drop in freshman enrollment this fall? Let us know in the comments section below.

Tags: Enrollment, National Association of Independent Colleges & Universities