Community college enrollment climbs again

AUGUSTA — As has been the trend in recent years, Maine’s community colleges continue to experience double digit enrollment. Officials point to the tough economy as the biggest reason.

For the spring semester, enrollment is up 15.4 percent compared with the same time last year, the system announced Tuesday. That's an increase of nearly 2,000 students for a total spring enrollment of 14,936.

All seven community colleges are reporting enrollment growth, with the largest gains at York County Community College (up 44 percent) and Southern Maine Community College and Northern Maine Community College (both up 15 percent), college system spokeswoman Helen Pelletier said.

At the Central Maine Community College in Auburn, spring enrollment is also up nearly 15 percent over last spring, said Roger G. Philippon, Dean of Planning and Public Affairs.

The Auburn college has experienced an increase in students every year since at least 1998. Growth in total credit hour enrollment has been even more dramatic due to more students taking more courses, Philippon said.

“The state of the economy is a factor,” Philippon said. “A lot of people are unemployed or underemployed. The community college presents a good opportunity for them to increase their job potential.”

Another reason is the bargain priced tuition of $3,260 a semester for a full-time Maine student. The affordable price is attracting more recent high school graduates.

CMCC's more popular programs include liberal arts, which many students transfer to a four-year college. Others are nursing, “which is always at capacity,” Philippon said, plus automotive technology, machine tool, computer technology and business.

In spite of severe budget constraints, the community college system remains committed to providing as many students as possible with the education they need, MCCS President John Fitzsimmons said in a statement Tuesday.

"As neighbors, friends and family members struggle through these very tough times, the work of our colleges has never been more important,” he said. Less tax dollars to the state means $1.7 million cuts to the system this year and next. Next year some programs may have to go. Tuition hikes have not yet been decided by the trustees, “but the board feels it's important to keep tuition affordable,” Pelletier said.