- March 28, 2024
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College enrollment is at an all-time high, particularly in Central Florida, where the economy has caused many to seek higher education.
Post-secondary enrollment in the nation set a new record with an estimated 19.6 million students in fall 2009, according to the Digest of Education Statistics: 2009, released by the National Center for Education Statistics.
Local colleges like the University of Central Florida and Seminole State College both expect an increase in enrollment this fall. Other institutions such as Valencia Community College and Rollins College are also expecting their campuses to be fuller when the fall semester starts this month.
Seminole State College
Seminole State College had 19,500 students enrolled in the 2009 fall semester and its admissions director expects the school's enrollment to exceed 21,000 by the time classes start.
Pamela Mennechey, Seminole State's director of Admissions and Recruiting, says there are a number of reasons contributing the enrollment spike.
While she says that many universities are almost full, the economy has driven more adult learners back into the classroom with first-time college students who are looking for a less expensive and more personal means of education.
"I think it is a money issue," Mennechey said.
"A lot of students don't want to be in huge classes," she added.
University of Central Florida
UCF is the largest college in the state, with 53,644 students enrolled in fall of 2009.
That figure is a 6.7 percent increase from the 50,275 in the 2008 fall semester.
While the 2010 fall enrollment figures are not yet available, UCF is expected to have an increase in population.
Christine Dellert of UCF News and Information said that the university is not driven to have the largest enrollment.
"We want to provide high-quality students access to a world-class UCF education," she said.
Valencia
Valencia's enrollment jumped more than 10 percent last year, with 10,979 students enrolled in the 2009 spring semester, compared to 9,922 in 2008. The 2010 fall enrollment numbers will not be available until 2011, but they are expected to increase even more.
Lisa Stilke, VCC's Director of Admissions and Registration, thinks the economy plays a big part in the increase of enrollment, as people who are losing their jobs are returning to school. Many of those prospective students are finding closed doors and fully booked enrollment at other colleges.
"A lot of universities have stopped enrollment and we are getting the influx of applications," she said.
Rollins College
Rollins College had 3,294 students enrolled in the 2009 fall semester, but the upcoming fall enrollment statistics will not be available until early 2010.
"We are expecting a slight increase in students," said Holly Pohlig, Rollins College's director of admissions.
The NCES expects college enrollment to continue to set new records from fall 2010 through fall 2018, with an increase of about 9 percent.