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.”
