AUGUSTA – Low annual tuition – about $3,300 a year – is contributing to another year of higher enrollment at Maine’s community colleges, officials said Wednesday.

Overall enrollment at the Maine Community College System grew 5.4 percent from last year to this, according to preliminary fall numbers. That number is for students enrolled in degree programs. The overall head count growth is 6.5 percent, said system spokeswoman Helen Pelletier.

Since legislators established the community college system in 2003, switching it from technical colleges, the number of students entering directly from high school has grown by 69 percent, and 5 percent in the past year.

That’s similar to the overall six-year enrollment growth of 64 percent, said Maine Community College System President John Fitzsimmons.

Meanwhile, Auburn’s Central Maine Community College experienced the highest growth of degree-seeking students, up 8.4 percent in the last year. When counting the overall head count, CMCC is up 5.5 percent from last year. The college’s total enrollment number is 2,447, of which 2,038 are enrolled in degree programs.

Auburn’s enrollment growth continues to be strong in career and technical programs, said Dean of Planning and Public Affairs Roger Philippon.

In addition to a large increase in liberal arts students, the college has seen enrollment jumps in business administration and management, computer technology, graphic arts and printing technology, human services and medical assisting. And the college has strong enrollment in its new criminal justice program, Philippon said.

Meanwhile other programs – nursing and automotive technology – “are again this year at or over capacity,” Philippon said in a prepared statement.

The growth demonstrates more students recognize the value of community college in Auburn and the six other campuses, Philippon said. “Our tuition is low and our location is excellent.”

The need for programs grows during tough economic times, Fitzsimmons said.

He praised the seven campuses for their ability to stretch a dollar and “serve so many more Maine people who are seeking to upgrade their skills.” But he warned the colleges are stretched thin. Some programs can’t meet the needs. “We are simply unable to serve all those who are turning to us,” Fitzsimmons said.

Enrollment numbers announced Wednesday are preliminary, but are not expected to change significantly by the official census date of Oct. 15.

At a community college system meeting Wednesday, the board approved a 4.5 percent increase request to state lawmakers for each of the next two years. The higher costs are to cover rising energy, health care and retirement costs.

“We are painfully aware of both the fiscal constraints facing the state, and the enrollment pressures placed on our colleges,” system board Chairman Daniel Wathen said in a statement. The requested budget increase addresses most needs, but would not allow the community colleges to expand programs and take more students.

If the 4.5 percent is approved, that would not cover the higher costs and cuts are expected, according to the system. It’s not yet known whether tuition will increase, said spokeswoman Pelletier.

If there is an increase, the goal would be to keep it to a minimum, she said. “Even though the community colleges offer the lowest tuition in the state, college costs are a very real stretch for many of our students,” Pelletier said. “As it is, 75 percent of our full-time students qualify for some form of financial aid.”