MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) – Enrollment at Tennessee Board of Regents colleges has dropped an average of 4.4 percent this fall.

WMOT-FM in Murfreesboro reported the figure is averaged over the six universities and 13 colleges under Regents supervision.

The state's other public university system, the University of Tennessee, has not yet released enrollment figures.

At Middle Tennessee State University, the drop was 4.5 percent among fulltime students. University spokesman Andrew Oppmann said several factors contributed to the decline, but he noted steadily rising tuition costs are a factor.

TBR Chancellor John Morgan said it isn't yet clear whether the declines will trigger additional cuts in state funding.

Of concern is a decline in the number of returning students and a recent change in which the legislature tied state funding to graduation rates.

Information from: WMOT-FM, www.wmot.org/

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