McHenry County College Among Top Regional Schools

McHenry County College in Crystal Lake was among the top regional schools for 2013 enrollment increases and continues to follow the nation-wide trend that shows a marked growth in two-year school enrollment since 2000.

With $12.7 billion slashed from student loan programs since 2007, more and more students and their parents are eyeing community colleges as an economical stepping stone to higher education. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), between 2000 and 2010, nation-wide enrollment at two-year institutions increased from 5.9 to 7.7 million students and is expected to reach 8.8 million students by 2021.

While full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment statewide decreased by 2.5 percent (or more) for many Illinois community colleges, McHenry County College showed an increase of 2.2 percent, according to the Spring 2013 enrollment report released by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB).

Locally, McHenry County College also has more full-time equivalent students attending this spring semester than any neighboring community college.

FTE enrollment decreased at Harper College by 1.5 percent, decreased at Elgin Community College by 2.3 percent and decreased at Rock Valley College by 3.9 percent. FTE increased 1.3 percent at College of Lake County.

“I believe our continuing increases at MCC are because we are offering new programs that meet the needs of McHenry County residents,” said MCC President Vicky Smith. “In addition, our student success initiatives are influencing our student retention and persistence rates.”

New degree programs at MCC include Registered Nursing, Robotics, Culinary Management, and Graphic Arts. The College is also offering “Fast Track” degree programs for adults, new professional certificate programs, as well as more classes online, on Saturdays and locally in some cities, including Harvard.

Students are also recognizing the financial value of starting college locally, Smith said. They can take the introductory classes they need at their local community college and then transfer to a four-year school as a junior and graduate with a bachelor’s degree – at a fraction of the cost.

Like other community colleges across the nation, MCC offers all the introductory coursework incoming college students have to take for a little more than $100 per credit hour, saving students (and their parents) anywhere from $25,000 to $100,000+, depending on whether students transfer to a public or private four-year college and where they live. In-district tuition at MCC is among the lowest in the state, well within the national average of less than half of the cost incurred at a public four-year college, and about one-tenth the cost of attending an independent four-year college.

And the quality of education has never been better. Studies show that students who spend their first two years at a community college and then go on to graduate from a four-year school are as well prepared, and in many cases at MCC, better prepared academically than those who go directly to a four-year school. Research also shows that students who start at a community college do just as well after graduation as students who start in a four-year college.

An added bonus at MCC is overall classroom conditions, said Christina Haggerty, chief communications officer. MCC is still considered a smaller school by national standards, so students learn in relatively small classes from experienced instructors. “An Intro to Economics or Psych 101 course isn’t conducted in a 400-student lecture hall, and the average student-teacher contact time is much higher at MCC,” Haggerty said.

“Not only are community colleges much more in tune with today’s economic climate,” Haggerty said, “but based on student focus groups, we know the overall quality of education and “college experience” at MCC is something our students recognize and appreciate.”