EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP): University of Southern Indiana officials say higher academic standards could be the cause of a drop in enrollment.

The Evansville Courier & Press reports 565 fewer students are on campus this fall than at the same time last year.

USI President Linda Bennett stands by the tougher academic standards. School officials note that the 1,709 new freshmen admitted this year represent average SAT scores six points higher than last year's class, and an increase of 51 points over the last three years.

School officials say the percentage of students who might not be as prepared to succeed in college has been cut from 8 percent of the student body to just a little over 1 percent.