With over 600,000 fewer students enrolled in spring of 2021, higher education is continuing to see decreases in enrollment from the impact of COVID-19. Although the certifications and technical degrees that community colleges offer are in high demand, these facilities are feeling the hit the most with 9.5% or 476,000 fewer students than last year – that's over 65% of all undergraduate enrollment decreases – as reported by the National Student Clearinghouse® Research Center™.

Undoubtedly, the rising cost for college tuition is high on the list for reasons why students aren't planning on going on to postsecondary academia – yet, community colleges, the least expensive option, are seeing the largest decreases in enrollment. With family incomes impacted so significantly through the pandemic, the idea of investing money into something that doesn't wield immediate results can seem insurmountable to families just trying to survive.

While keeping the cost of postsecondary education in mind, here are a few ideas to positively impact enrollment and bring even more value to students considering their academic path.

  1. Build partnerships with industry representatives. 
  2. Change the script on the benefit of a college career. 
  3. Give credit for industry-recognized credentials. 

Read the full article about increasing enrollment in higher education by Rachel Burris at Higher Education Dive.