Wake Tech kicks off 2024 with record enrollment
More than 23,000 people are enrolled in degree programs at Wake Tech Community College for spring 2024, a record.
The school announced the start of the spring classes showed more than 10 percent more students than a year ago.
Nationally, community college enrollment has slowly started to reverse a two-decade steady decline and an even steeper dive pandemic hit. Enrollment numbers picked up in the spring and fall semesters, according to the National Student Clearinghouse.
“We’re excited about the increased enrollment,” says Brian Gann, Wake Tech vice president for Enrollment & Student Services. “Dual enrollment and retention are key to the growth we are seeing - more high school students are taking Wake Tech classes to get a jump start and more students are staying at Wake Tech after they get here to reach their career and educational goals.”
Demand for certain jobs, such as electricians and health care aides, is expected to hold steady, or even increase, in the coming years.
Wake Tech is North Carolina’s largest community college, serving more than 64,000 adults annually. The college is accredited and offers more than 250 associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates that prepare students for university transfer or immediate employment. More than half of those programs can be completed totally online.
Community colleges provide access to postsecondary education at a much lower cost compared to four-year universities. The average costs of tuition and fees for local residents at a two-year public community college was $3,860 in the 2022-2023 school year, according to the College Board.
The National Student Clearinghouse reported in October that enrollment in community colleges grew 4.4% this fall, accounting for nearly 60% of the increase in undergraduates this semester.
