Oh those enrollment blues

Remember last year's enrollment predictions -- college presidents were singing the blues over the decline that was expected to devastate their campuses?

Demographic estimates told them there would be 2 percent fewer 18-year-olds than the previous year, and so public hand-wringing (in conjuction with open purses) was in order.

But initial returns are now in, and it is estimated that there are more, not fewer, students attending post-secondary institutions this year than last. The Chronicle of Higher Education places the enrollment jump at 3.2 percent.

The total figure for all students, full and part time at all institutions of higher education in the US is estimated to be in excess of 12 million, with a little more than a third of these students enrolled in two- year colleges.