CARBONDALE - Fall enrollment at Southern Illinois University Carbondale has dropped more than 300 students since last fall, and university officials are citing the economy as a leading factor.

Offical numbers from the 10th day of classes at SIUC show this fall's enrollment at 20,673 compared to 20,983 last year.

Freshman and sophomore numbers both increased this year by 119 and 38, respectively.

"When it comes to enrollment, we are facing economic and competitive challenges that we haven't seen in a generation," Interim Chancellor Samuel Goldman said in a press release.