An email that came across my Inbox today is one more piece of proof that private universities have responded to the economic crisis with lower tuition increases than usual.

According to a survey of 350 independent colleges, the average tuition and fee increase this year –  4.3 percent — is the smallest hike in 37 years. That increase, noted the National Association of Independent College and Universities, which conducted the survey of its members, is slightly higher than the consumer price index in 2008, which was 3.8 percent.

The average annual increase in tuition at fees at private colleges has been 6 percent a year over the last 10 years, according to NAICU.

The lower tuition increase trend has been the rule in the St. Louis area this year, too, as regular readers of The Grade would know. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the tuition increases (though these increases don’t include fees as the national numbers do) at area private universities:

• Lindenwood: 2 percent
• SLU: 2 percent
• WashU: 4.4 percent
• Maryville: 3 percent

Schools have done so to both ease the burden on families, struggling to make ends meet during the recession. But it’s also been in the hopes that students aren’t scared away from private colleges and opt instead for more modestly-prices public universities.

That reminds me of another survey that came across my desk recently. This one was from NACAC (The National Association for College Admission Counseling). This survey was of high school counselors and of college admission officers. According to that survey, 60 percent of respondents said more students were planning to enroll in public colleges over private ones this fall over last year. And 37 percent of respondents said more students were planning to enroll in community colleges over four-year colleges.

But I haven’t seen much evidence yet of major swings along these lines for St. Louis universities on this front. Yes, community colleges have reported enrollment increases since the economy began to deteriorate. But four-year schools haven’t necessarily seen a corresponding dip.

Mizzou’s freshman enrollment still looks healthy — less than last year, but that was a blockbuster year. So it’s still well ahead of its enrollment from two years ago.

And applications at many private universities ended up being on par with previous years. But we’ll have to wait and see how the summer may affect students’ decisions of where to enroll. So we’ll be watching to see if fewer students show up in the fall anywhere — or if any schools have any unanticipated bumps.

Anybody hearing of any drops or big gains anywhere so far?

The Grade is the St. Louis region’s premier blog on education and child welfare. To read other recent posts, go to www.stltoday.com/thegrade.