Enrollment in Tennessee's community colleges this fall increased 2.2 percent over fall 2016, according to new enrollment figures presented to the Tennessee Board of Regents today.
Overall enrollment in the state's 13 community colleges on the 14th day of classes for the current fall semester totaled 86,621, up 2.2 percent from the 84,773 on the same date in fall 2016, according to a news release from board of regents. Enrollment of full-time students was 56,918, up 2.9 percent from fall 2016.
While the numbers were up overall statewide, Chattanooga State's enrollment fell from 8,628 in 2016 to 8,362 in 2017, a 3 percent drop. In Bradley County, Cleveland State's enrollment dropped 9 percent, from 3,307 in 2016 to 3,004 in 2017.
Motlow State Community College led overall enrollment growth, with 6,597 students enrolled this fall, a 12.9 percent increase from a year ago. Southwest Tennessee Community College has 9,114 students, up 10.2 percent from last year. Pellissippi State Community College has the largest enrollment in the college system at 11,168 – up 9 percent from last fall.
Fourteenth-day student census numbers are a snapshot of enrollment. End-of-term enrollments are factored into the state's higher education funding formula. Fall 2016 end-of-term enrollment totaled 86,162, or 1,389 more students than were enrolled on the 14th day of that semester.
Tennessee community college enrollment peaked at 98,459 in fall 2010 during the economic recession, reflecting a national trend of higher enrollments during period of high unemployment.