For the third straight year, enrollment in the state’s community and technical colleges has increased, the Alabama Community College System announced.

This year the increase was by more than 6%, outpacing the national enrollment average of 4%. The ACCS also reported registration for the spring semesters are up by more than 17% over last year.

“Enrollment increases are great news that mean more residents are interested in training that will help them achieve success, but it’s more than just education and credentials at Alabama’s community and technical colleges that residents are after,” said system Chancellor Jimmy H. Baker. “Residents and employers are interested in the partnerships, wraparound services, scholarships and career services that their local community colleges are offering, and we, by nature of being embedded in the community, must remain responsive to the local workforce needs.

“Supporting our communities is what this system was created for 60 years ago, and that is what we will continue to provide.”

According to the ACCS, fall semester enrollment in for-credit academic and technical programs increased from 78,524 students in 2022 to 83,509 in 2023. For-credit programs are those applied toward earning an associate degree or bachelor’s degree. This year’s fall enrollment is the highest the system has experienced since 2017.

About 40% of the students are earning credits to transfer to a four-year college. The others are pursuing degrees in registered nursing, computer and information sciences, business administration and management, or manufacturing engineering technology.

Dual enrollment, which allows high school students to earn college credit, also increased in state by close to 17% from fall 2022 to fall 2023.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.