At a time when college tuition on average is increasing at around twice the rate of infl ation, it’s hard to imagine any school actually decreasing the cost of attendance. But Lincoln Christian University in Lincoln did just that earlier this month. In a letter sent to alumni on March 2, the school made a gambit to bolster enrollment by decreasing tuition. “We have had to face the reality,” the letter said. “It is becoming more and more diffi cult for college-bound students and their families to manage the expenses of higher education. Economics have taken a signifi cant toll on our enrollment and also on our retention.” LCU is reducing tuition by 20 percent for undergraduate students. “We took a giant leap of faith when we announced our reduced tuition rates,” the letter said. “The only way this can work is if, indeed, this opens the door to more students who want to study here.” The letter asked alumni to help recruit recent high school graduates to attend LCU by referring students to the university and by bringing students to visit the campus. The accredited private religious university was established in 1944 and has about 1,000 students.