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The Community Colleges of Iowa, including North Iowa Area Community College, have shown significant increases in enrollment statewide, including high school students and adult students, as well as increases in transfer rates.

Fall 2007 enrollment for the community colleges of Iowa reached an all-time high of nearly 90,000 students, according to a presentation by the Iowa Department of Education Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Preparation.  That compares to the just under 70,000 students served by the Regents institutions, the 55,000 students served by private non-profit institutions and the just under 45,000 students served by private for-profit institutions.

“These figures indicate that Iowa’s Community Colleges are increasingly becoming the college of first choice for the majority of Iowans ,” Dr. Michael Morrison, NIACC president, said.

High School students made up 24 percent of community college Fall 2007 enrollments.  Community Colleges served 22 percent of Iowa’s entire adult population.  Arts and Sciences enrollments were measured at just under 76,000 for 2007.  Career and Technical Education was provided to just under 41,000 students in 2007.  Online enrollments accounted for approximately 26 percent of all enrollments.  When looking at alumni from the Community Colleges of Iowa, 83 percent continue to live in Iowa.

The Community Colleges of Iowa also play a large role in continuing education efforts across the state.  In 2007, non-credit enrollments totaled 278,736 at community colleges. 

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