Nationwide, high-school students should find it easier to get into college, but not in this state The number of high school graduates is expected to start decreasing across the country and the clamor for seats at the nation's top schools may let up. But if you think that will mean more empty tables in the Cougareat or more spots to study in the student center, think again.

Utah Valley State College is preparing for more students and Brigham Young University isn't expecting a decline at all.

"We draw our students from the Latter-day Saint population," said BYU spokesman Michael Smart. "There has long been and there long will be an interest and demand for a BYU education."

According to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, there should be 3.2 million graduating seniors next May. After that, most states should see a slow and steady decline in the number of students and potential college freshman.

But in Utah things look a little different. According to the Utah State Office of Education, the number of students enrolled in Utah's public schools will keep on growing with little sign of letting up. In fact, the percent change, the ratio by which the enrollment is growing, is projected to increase until at least 2012, growing at a rate of nearly 3 percent per year. Nothing is projected to decline.

"We actually have more juniors than seniors this year, and we have more sophomores," said Colette Davis, the career center counselor at Timpview High School in Provo.

Amanda Covington, the spokeswoman for the Utah System of Higher Education, said the state has been flat for the last couple of years in the demographic of 18- to 24-year-olds, but the state is expecting a jump over the next decade.

Cameron Martin, UVSC's assistant to the president for development and planning, said the school is expecting two spikes in enrollment, in 2013 and 2017. That will bring the student body, currently about 23,000 students, to more than 30,000.

"The issue for us is how to deal with what we know is coming," Martin said.

Space is already an issue at the Orem campus; departments are clamoring for office space in the about-to-be-completed library.

"Space is such a commodity right now," Martin said.

In order to meet demand and keep its commitment to open enrollment, Martin said the school will have to do two things -- build more space and use the space it already has effectively. The school has been banking property adjacent to campus and working on plans for satellite campuses.

However, the existing University Parkway/Interstate 15 interchange will not be able to handle a 10,000 student increase.

"If you add 10,000 students [the interchange] shuts down. It just becomes a parking lot," Martin said.

In order to ease congestion, Martin said the college is talking with UDOT about possible solutions. They are also looking at ways to offer more online classes and night and weekend classes.

• Brittani Lusk can be reached at 344-2549 or at blusk@heraldextra.com.