The crowd was subdued. Mamie Ware, the university's vice president for academic affairs, told the students they are still eligible for federally subsidized financial aid through Life's accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. That regional accrediting agency is scheduled to review the university's status in December.

The agency's list of 10 concerns fall into three general areas, Ware said, including the university's financial stability.

Life once had the nation's largest chiropractic school, but program enrollment has fallen by half, to 1,400 students, since the Council on Chiropractic Education revoked the program accreditation in June.

An appeal filed by the university continued accreditation temporarily. It was pulled Sunday, after a three-person panel affirmed the earlier revocation.

Many students said Thursday they will probably transfer to another chiropractic school because they fear the university will not regain its chiropractic accreditation by the time they graduate. Others worry so many students will leave that the university will not survive. Chiropractic tuition accounts for about 80 percent of university revenue.

Jennifer Bily, 30, a student from New York, said she feels frustrated, deflated and "very sad," at the prospect of leaving. But she worries that her ability to earn a living as a chiropractor will be put at risk if she stays. The mood on campus is negative and confused, she said.

"It's almost like a death in the family," she said.