Crowder tops Missouri community college student growth

All of Missouri's 12 community college systems saw enrollment increases for the spring semester, according to information released Wednesday by the Missouri Community College Association, and Crowder College in Neosho saw the largest percentage increase.

Crowder has 4,049 students for spring 2010, up 22.3 percent from spring 2009, while Ozarks Technical Community College has enrollment of 12,383 students, up 16.6 percent from a year earlier.

Statewide, community college enrollment is up 13.1 percent year-to-year, with more than 100,000 students enrolled in MCCA member schools. The growth rate is more than double the growth from spring 2008 to spring 2009, when enrollment numbers grew by 5.9 percent.

"As difficult economic times have continued, community colleges have continued to attract more and more students,” MCCA President Jim Kellerman said in the release. "The short-term work force training, associate degrees and certificates offered at community colleges provide realistic solutions. Community colleges give people options.”

Moberly Area Community College posted the second-highest enrollment growth at 22.2 percent, followed by State Fair Community College at 19.3 percent.[[In-content Ad]]