CHAMPAIGN – Enrollment is down this fall at most of Illinois’ public universities, and administrators and experts say the sluggish economy, rising tuition and dwindling financial aid are likely to blame.

At least eight of Illinois’ 12 public universities saw their enrollments drop this fall, while just two – one of them the University of Illinois flagship campus – have reported increases. Northeastern Illinois University won’t have fall figures until later this month, while Chicago State University didn’t provide figures.

The sharpest drops were at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston – 6.8 percent – and at Southern Illinois’ campus in Carbondale and Northern Illinois, both off by almost 5 percent.