Shelton State and other Alabama Community Colleges Boast Increased Enrollment for Fall and Spring Semesters

December 5, 2023 – Spring registration for classes throughout the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) is higher than this time last year, building on the momentum from increased fall semester enrollment and marking the third consecutive year for enrollment increases statewide.

Fall semester enrollment in for-credit academic and technical programs rose more than 6% from 78,524 students in 2022 to 83,509 in 2023. For-credit college enrollment defines enrollment in courses that are applied toward earning an associate degree or bachelor’s degree. About 40% of current ACCS students are earning credit to transfer to a four-year institution, while the largest number of career technical students are pursuing credentials in registered nursing, computer and information sciences, business administration and management, or manufacturing engineering technology.

At Shelton State Community College (SSCC), fall semester enrollment for academic and technical programs increased by more than 8% to over 4,500 students. The College also saw increased dual enrollment offerings and enrollment at partnering high schools within the service area. Dual enrollment for fall 2023 increased more than 66% over fall 2022.

Dual enrollment, which allows high school students to earn college credit at little to no cost, has increased nearly 17% from fall 2022 to fall 2023. Dual enrollment through ACCS schools has increased more than 65% since 2015.

Registration in noncredit workforce-connected programs offered through the Alabama Community College System is also on the rise. More than 27,700 residents are currently participating in training programs that yield industry-recognized credentials within weeks, contributing to Alabama’s workforce development. Programs such as Adult Education’s Alabama Career Essentials (ACE), Mobilizing Alabama’s Pathways (MAPS), and the Innovation Center’s Skills for Success rapid training classes are playing a pivotal role in upskilling the workforce.

Spring registration at Alabama’s community and technical colleges is already showing a remarkable increase of more than 17% compared to the same period last year, with a 23% increase at Shelton State.

“Enrollment increases are great news that mean more residents are interested in training that will help them achieve success, but it’s more than just education and credentials at Alabama’s community and technical colleges that residents are after,” said Jimmy H. Baker, Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System.

This growth represents the third consecutive year of for-credit enrollment increases across the Alabama Community College System, bucking national trends for community colleges. According to the National Student Clearinghouse, community colleges nationally grew by about 4% in the fall term.

“Shelton State’s mission is to meet people where they are and take them where they want to go,” said Dr. Jonathan Koh, SSCC’s President. “Increased enrollment indicates the people in our community are ready to pursue degrees, certifications, and non-credit courses that can lead to life-changing jobs and opportunities.”

Alabama’s 24 community and technical colleges offer diverse certification, credential, dual enrollment, and degree programs in collaboration with leading industry partners.

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About ACCS

Alabama’s community and technical colleges were merged into one system May 3, 1963, when legislators laid the groundwork for a unified system of institutions to focus on accessible training in “arts and sciences and in useful skills and trades” for current and future labor needs. Sixty years have passed, but that important cause remains the singular purpose of the Alabama Community College System (ACCS). With 24 community and technical colleges in more than 130 locations and an economic impact of $6.6 billion, the ACCS is Alabama’s gateway to first-class, affordable education and technical training to compete in a constantly evolving workforce. More than 155,000 Alabamians benefit from the various certification, credential, dual enrollment and degree programs the ACCS offers alongside leading industry partners. The System includes the Alabama Technology Network, which provides extensive training and service offerings directly to business and industry, and the ACCS Innovation Center, which provides rapid skills training through its Skills for Success program. The ACCS is governed by the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees.

About Shelton State Community College

Shelton State Community College, an accredited, two-year institution in the Alabama Community College System, offers over 30 associate degrees in technical and health services programs. Shelton State, located in Tuscaloosa, is one of six Historically Black Community Colleges in Alabama and one of only 12 in the nation. For more than 70 years, the College has educated students in West Alabama and is an institution where academic skills transfer to workplace skills through progressive partnerships with local industry. SSCC is a member of the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) and competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) at the Division I level. The institution holds 30 NJCAA Region XXII Division I titles in men’s and women’s basketball and baseball, 13 National Championships in competitive cheerleading, and seven recognitions as an Academic Team of the Year for softball. For more information about Shelton State, visit sheltonstate.edu.