United Group Insurance

IWCC sees enrollment dip

News

July 12th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Enrollment is dipping at Iowa Western Community College, driving down revenue and contributing to the college’s recent decision to increase tuition by $11 a credit hour. The Daily Non Pareil reports the decline follows a larger trend of decreasing community college enrollment across Iowa and nationally.

Among the possible reasons for the decline, according to college spokesman Don Kohler, is a dip throughout the area in high school enrollments. Full-time enrollment at the college was 9,971 in 2013 and 9,586 in 2015, a 3.86 percent drop.

Most community colleges in Iowa began to see enrollment declines around 2011, according to a data tool released late last month by the Iowa Department of Education’s Division of Community Colleges.