Total enrollment for the 13 local community colleges increased by 3.8% to 174,061 students as of early October—marking a smaller uptick compared to last year, according to this week’s Business Journal list. Last year, total enrollment rose 11%.
However, two South Orange County Community College District institutions—Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College—changed their reporting methodology this year so that students taking classes at both schools aren’t counted twice. That likely accounted for the smaller increase in overall enrollment this year.
Of the 13 community colleges surveyed this year, nine reported total enrollment increases. Despite its new methodology, Irvine Valley College logged a 31% increase to 16,562 students, up from 12,635 last year.
The increase was partially tied to a 14% spike in part-time students at the school. IVC notes that its head count includes for the first time this year non-credit students or those taking classes where the unit fees are waived.
“Irvine Valley College (IVC) has once again set a historic milestone in its four decades of serving Irvine and the surrounding community. At the official census, IVC’s headcount reached 16,230 students, and the number has since grown even further to 16,562 students by the end of September — the largest enrollment since the college’s founding in 1985,” IVC President John Hernandez told the Business Journal.
Other colleges seeing significant total enrollment increases included Fullerton College, up 4.8% to 20,678 students; Golden West College, up 5.8% to 12,085; Coastline College, up 6% to 11,529; and Santa Ana College, up 10% to 20,334.
Push for AI
Two colleges showed declines in total enrollment—Orange Coast College (OCC) and Saddleback College. OCC, part of the Coast Community College District, saw a 3.6% drop in total enrollment to 16,892 students. The decline was driven by a dip in full-time students, whose numbers decreased by 5.6% this year.
“The California Community Colleges system experienced notable enrollment declines during the pandemic, but we’re now seeing a steady rebound. At Coast Colleges, we’re proud to be part of that recovery, with more students utilizing our colleges to advance their education and careers,” Chancellor Whitney Yamamura told the Business Journal.
Students attending OCC are seeking to learn how AI can be used as a guide in their studies, the college says.
“Coastline College is the first higher education institution in California to provide direct assessment, competency-based programs designed to meet the needs of adult learners and working professionals,” Yamaura said.
“These programs let students learn at their own pace and advance once they have demonstrated mastery through assessments and real-world applications. Coastline College is also offering new degree programs in Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity, fields critical to Orange County’s tech economy.”
Saddleback’s total enrollment declined by 6% to 24,555 students. However, Saddleback is tracking enrollment differently this year to avoid duplicate headcounts for students taking classes at its sister colleges, ivc.
“In previous years, students who were taking classes at both Irvine Valley College and Saddleback may have been included in the headcount for both schools,” Saddleback spokesperson Jennie McCue said. This year, the school is “only counting students who have Saddleback as their college of record,” she added.
Part-time enrollment is up 1.4% at Saddleback, which coincides with the school’s launch of the Part-time Promise program, which pays for up to two years of tuition support for eligible, first-time college students.
Other notable enrollment increases:
– Coastline College reported about 819 full-time and 10,710 part-time students.
– Cypress College reported an increase of total full-time enrollment by 2.2% at 5,867 this year.
