A Decade of Decline and Evolution in Agricultural Economics Enrollments and Programs, 1985-96

Abstract

North American university departments of agricultural economics were surveyed regarding enrollment, curricula, budget and related issues. Average undergraduate enrollments declined over the last eleven years, reversing the upward trend of the previous decade. Graduate enrollments have remained remarkably stable for the past two decades. In response to declining enrollments and budgets, many departments have changed their name and/or curriculum to attract domestic students who are not interested in production agriculture. Colleges of agriculture have, on average, increased their total enrollments by diversifying their programs. This reverses a trend of declining enrollment that had existed for nearly two decades.