Ann Arbor area business schools are seeing lower application numbers this academic year, but still no shortage of students to fill their slots.

Nationally, interest in business majors and careers is hitting the lowest levels since 1976, according to this year's "Freshman Survey," which has been conducted each year since 1966 by the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California at Los Angeles.

Grosse Point freshman and pre-business student Ariana Conti works on her computer in the lounge of the Stephen M Ross School of Business in January 2010. Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

In 1976, the last year interest was so low, recovery began for the recession that started with the 1973 oil embargo and energy crisis.

Around the area:

• The University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business saw actual undergraduate applications drop 17 percent - or 143 students - from 2008 to 2009. But the number of students who were admitted and enrolled in the program's newest class increased 8 percent - or by 25 students - to 384 students in 2009.

• The Eastern Michigan University College of Business experienced an 8 percent drop in applications - or 20 fewer students - from 2008 to 2009. The school rejected 17 percent of 236 undergraduate business school applicants this fall and admitted 198 students, five fewer than in 2008. School officials said the numbers are up again this winter.

• Cleary University, which specializes in business degrees and has campuses in Ann Arbor and four other Michigan cities, received one fewer application in 2009 than in 2008 for its undergraduate or associate business programs, at 288. Dean of enrollment Roy Coons said enrollment is consistent, and the school is working on a number of initiatives to help students gain access to education.

Local students say the gloomy economic forecast they faced last year hasn't deterred their interest in business careers - and they say things are looking up.

"Finance companies have taken interns, which wasn't the case last year," said Alex Paley, a junior at the U-M Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

"The economy is cyclical," added U-M business junior Jason Jacob. "It's going to go back up at some point. I definitely have no regrets at pursuing a career in business."

The study, released in January, is based on the responses of 220,000 first-time, full-time students from 297 four-year institutions. The data was statistically adjusted to reflect 1.4 million freshmen who entered college in the fall. 

Students who reported their intent to major in a business field dropped from 16.8 percent in 2008 to 14.4 percent in 2009, the lowest level for business majors in 35 years. Those who reported they intended to pursue a career in business also dropped, from 14.1 percent in 2008 to 12.1 percent in 2009, the study found.

Juliana Keeping covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter