Collin College broke enrollment records in fall 2017, continuing a recent trend by the college district. While many factors play into the college’s enrollment growth, outreach at the high school level and county-wide population growth are considered to play significant roles in the increase.
The college enrolled 31,666 students in credit classes this past fall semester reflecting a 1,934-student increase over fall 2016. The growth set a total enrollment record for the district, which has seen increases in each semester of the past year. The college had a 5.3 percent increase in its spring 2017 headcount and a 2.5 percent jump in the number of summer 2017 students.
Much of the increase came from dual credit enrollment, through which high school students enroll in college classes and receive high school and college credit simultaneously. A record high number of 5,609 high school students are enrolled in dual credit offerings, an increase of 1,055 students (18 percent) over fall 2016.
Dr. Sherry Schumann, senior vice president for Academic, Workforce, and Enrollment Services, believes there are many reasons for the growth in dual credit enrollment, but, in large part, it comes down to more awareness of the programs and more opportunities to participate. Collin College has made a concerted effort of outreach to the independent school districts (ISDs) in its service area and the ISDs have responded.
Local high schools have opened up dual credit enrollment options to more of their students, lowering the grade level at which students can take the classes. Frisco, for instance, has opened the college’s dual credit offerings to juniors and sophomores. In cases like The Colony, some ISDs have created academy programs which allow students to earn an associate degree through dual credit classes while still in high school.
“More schools are recognizing the value of dual credit classes and therefore increasing the opportunities for their students,” Dr. Schumann said.
More than two thirds of the college district’s service area high schools now offer 30 or more dual credit hours. The college’s goal is to make that many hours available at every school in the college district, while also broadening its dual credit offerings in the career and technical fields so all students have options, no matter their academic or career objectives.
Overall enrollment gains
While it is unclear how many dual credit students will move on to Collin College after high school, traditional enrollment shows no signs of slowing. Due in part to the continued population growth in Collin County, each of the district’s major campuses drew more students this fall, and the number of first time freshman increased by 9.4 percent over last year to 5,557 students – another record.
Enrollment at the Preston Ridge Campus in Frisco grew by 422, while the Spring Creek Campus in Plano enrolled 283 more students than a year ago. Collin’s Central Park Campus in McKinney had the most growth for a single site, with 588 more students this year than last. McKinney Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Hermes isn’t surprised at the enrollment growth, given what is happening in her city.
“We are experiencing an accelerated growth rate in McKinney that is definitely reflected in the growth of Collin’s student population,” she said.
For information about dual credit, visit http://www.collin.edu/gettingstarted/dualcredit/.