Enrollment Up at Lake Land College

Fall enrollment at Lake Land College has risen to its highest level since 2019, according to the College’s official 10^th-day Enrollment Report as presented to the Lake Land College Board of Trustees at the regular September meeting. 

The total number of students attending Lake Land College for Fall 2024 is up 7% over last year’s count, with 3,960 students enrolled. Additional highlights of the report include a nearly 20% increase in New Students and growth in both Dual Credit and Certificate program enrollment, which increased by 7.97% and 8.30% respectively.

Full-time equivalency, or FTE, was also up by half a percent. FTE is the total number of credit hours divided by 15.

“We’re excited to celebrate this significant enrollment increase,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “Even with the challenges of the delayed FAFSA and a declining high school population, the College community came together to exceed our shared enrollment goal.”

Individuals across the nation are increasingly recognizing the value of community colleges, where students can prepare for rapid employment with short-term career programs or save money on the path toward a bachelor’s degree with long-term transfer options.

The results of the report show that students continue to view Lake Land College as a smart investment in their futures and a pathway to increased earning potential. Students enjoy the advantage of an education that is accessible to all, with a campus environment that feels like home and the opportunity to jumpstart a career without the weight of student loan debt. Students also enjoy innovative programs, where cutting-edge technology and hands-on learning opportunities equip them with high-demand skills for a modern workforce.

Lake Land College continues to serve students of all ages, skill levels and experience. Students can begin at Lake Land as early as the junior year of high school, with dual credit courses designed to offer a head start on college and career trajectory. Meanwhile, GED programs and English Language Acquisition courses provide opportunities for essential skill development among adult populations, serving the needs of individuals in the area and strengthening the local workforce.

In addition to an increase in new students, Lake Land College enrollment numbers reflect strong retention throughout the student body. A devotion to student support services, including Welcome Week activities, free tutoring at the Student Success Center, helpful alternatives to remedial math and English courses, mental wellness and health services, the Laker Food Pantry and DEIB initiatives empower students to excel throughout their time at Lake Land College.

“We’re pleased to see so many students continue to choose Lake Land College as the starting point of their dream career,” Bullock said. “Our goal is to create accessible opportunities for students to change their lives through the power of education.”

The 10^th-day enrollment report is a standard report among the higher education community that captures opening enrollment data each semester.