The Annual Condition of Iowa's Community Colleges, 2009

Each fall, the Iowa Department of Education collects enrollment data from Iowa's community colleges on the 10th business day of the semester. The fall data collection contains data on the 2009-10 academic year (fiscal year 2010). This report is the only report on fiscal year 2010 until next year's "Annual Condition of Iowa's Community Colleges." Fall enrollment grew 14.3 percent to a record high of 100,736 students in fiscal year 2010. College enrollment has grown for 12 consecutive years since enrollment slipped in fiscal year 1997. In the 45-year history of the modern community college system, enrollment has only fallen four times. This year's enrollment has accelerated at the fastest pace since 1975. In 2008, enrollment grew only 1.2 percent last year. Nevertheless, enrollment growth is outpacing the projected nationwide growth in community colleges (Hussar and Bailey, 2008: Table 16). Unlike the previous two years, full-time enrollment exceeded part-time enrollment. Slightly over half, 50.3 percent, of students were enrolled full-time--12 or more credit hours. The last two years, part-time enrollment exceeded full-time enrollment. That shift represented growing enrollment by working students and joint enrollment--high school students who enroll in community colleges. The growth in enrollment this year departs from the steady enrollment increases in the past. Enrollment during recessions tends to spike, but none have increased to this degree. The only larger increase in enrollment spiked 21.5 percent as community colleges began to expand in Iowa. Iowa's enrollment growth has traditionally been consistent. Enrollment decreased four times--1976, 1983, 1984, and 1997--during the entire 45-year history. Full-time enrollment decreased nine times over the same period, while part time enrollment only fell twice. The remainder of this report will break down credit enrollment by credit hours, by the programs in which students were enrolled, graphics, enrollment predictions, and data from other reporting sources. Appended are: (1) Glossary; (2) References; and (3) Index. (Contains 114 figures and 241 tables.) [This report was compiled with the assistance with Geoff Jones and edited by Stephanie Weeks.]