While there may be a decline in admissions, this article discusses a decline in % enrollment.<p>This is similar to talking about the decreasing average height of Americans: you need to account for the change in demographics over time.<p>It's entirely possible that the groups who made up college enrollment in 1972 are still showing up in the same % in English departments.<p>I suggest that the increase in public school enrollment corresponds to college becoming attractive/available to a wider group. I'd suggest looking at the enrollment patterns of people who are the first in their family to attend college--it seems like they would concentrate on the "sounds good" majors like business more than English.