We’ll probably see headlines like this from other states if the supposed economic recovery continues.

Cincinnati.com reports.

Fewer Ohioans going to college amid economic recovery

Ohio’s regional college campuses and community colleges are being pushed to work together to consolidate some services as enrollment drops for a fifth year.

Fall enrollment statewide was down 1 percent, according to preliminary headcounts, fueled by a 3 percent decline at regional campuses and a 4 percent decline at community colleges. Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor John Carey said part of that decline reflects Ohio’s boosted economy.

“We saw the college enrollment spike during the recession … Now that the economy is recovering, those people graduated and moved back into the (workforce),” he said, adding in some cases students are being scooped up for jobs before completing a degree.

Ohio isn’t alone. Nationally, fall enrollment at all colleges and universities was 19.3 million students, a decrease of nearly 2 percent from fall 2014, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. The national decline was felt most by two-year public institutions, which had a 2 percent decrease, and four-year for-profit institutions that saw nearly a 14 percent decrease.

“The bright spots are traditional age students at four-year public institutions and full-time students at four-year public and private non-profits, which each edged up by roughly half a percent,” said Doug Shapiro, research director of the National Student Clearinghouse. “But overall, traditional age students are continuing their slow declines and adult students are still leaving higher education in large numbers, particularly for-profit institutions and community colleges.”