New Missionary Age Reason for Drop in BYU Idaho Enrollment

REXBURG, Idaho (AP) — Brigham Young University-Idaho enrollment dropped 7.7 percent this spring compared to last spring.

School officials say the decline is due to a lower minimum age for Mormon missionaries as prospective students choose that route.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2012 lowered the minimum age to depart on missions from 21 to 19 for women and from 19 to 18 for men.

About 12,900 students enrolled at BYU-Idaho this spring compared to about 14,000 last spring.

University spokesman Marc Stevens tells the Post Register (http://www.postregister.com/node/55439) that enrollment numbers will continue to be down at least through the end of this year.

The school is compensating for the drop by selectively offering enrollment to students who would otherwise be on a three-month break.