Southeast Missouri State University has experienced declining enrollment this summer.

There are 2,519 graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in classes for the eight-week summer session, a drop of 55 from last year's headcount, school officials said.

The preliminary enrollment figures were compiled Monday, the day before the start of the regular summer session.

Undergraduate headcount stands at 1,952, down 112 from last year's 2,064. The number of graduate students taking summer classes climbed by 57, from 510 to 567.

Undergraduate students are taking 9,870 credit hours of classes this summer, down 89 from last year. Graduate students are taking a total of 2,414 credit hours, up 264 from a year ago.

In all, graduate and undergraduate student credit hours total 12,284, up 175 over last year, school officials said.

Fewer students were enrolled this year in the school's four-week summer session, which just ended, said Fred Snider, dean of enrollment development.

A total of 1,023 undergraduates were enrolled in the early session this year, a drop of 176 from a year ago. Ninety-seven graduate students took classes in the four-week session compared to 106 last year.

Snider said it's difficult to determine overall enrollment trends on the basis of how many students take summer classes. For one thing, relatively few students take summer classes compared to the spring and fall semesters, Snider said.

He said: "There is some fluctuation. It depends on the economy and lots of other things."

Students in summer classes range from teachers -- returning to school to obtain advance degrees -- to "visiting students" who are enrolled at other colleges or universities but are picking up an extra class or two, Snider said.

"Summer school is an interesting mix of people," he said.

Snider said last-minute enrollments are expected to boost the student headcount total for the current summer session over the initial figures reported this week. The final count should be known by June 28.