There are more students walking the UTM campus this spring than last February.

According to the office of Admissions, there were 339 more applications from beginning students than last spring.

Last spring, there were 5,448 students enrolled. This spring the number hopped up to 5,457.

Despite the many budget cuts across the state, it seems that people are returning to school after being laid off from work.

“This has been a growing trend across the state and could be spurred by recent economical events,” said Admissions Director Judy Rayburn.

People are returning to school because of limited job opportunities and to get an better job. Students are facing limited employment prospectives without a degree.

Students are choosing UTM for various reasons. The school offers many opportunities and smaller classes that allow for a more personable atmosphere. The classes are also taught by professors rather than graduate assistants, as it is the case at many schools like UTK.

With the increase in spring enrollment, the summer and fall admissions are expected to rise as well.

With the lottery passed by Tennessee voters last November, schools across the state are expected to see a rise in enrollment once everything gets settled in congress.

Money raised from the lottery will be put towards scholarships to be handed out to students to pay for higher education. With tuition rising with each passing year, more students are turning to financial assistance every year to help pay for their education.

However, there are many factors to acquire this money.

Students must possess at least a 3.0 grade point average and an income of less than $100,000. The award would also depend on if the student chose a private or public institution in the state of Tennessee.

Georgia has seen the greatest success with their lottery program putting money towards higher education.

Students are becoming more competitive because of the added students attending college who might not otherwise be there if it wasn't for the aide coming from the lottery.

While the rise in enrollment many mean less chances to get into classes, there is no big worry. As the number increases, colleges are fluctuating their class sizes to accommodate students.

Expect to see many changes in Tennessee’s higher education system. With more students attending universities, classes are becoming more competitive and education is no longer something to be taken for granted.