Enrollment has increased this year at New River Community College (NRCC). At this point in fall semester, headcount enrollment stands at 4,147 compared to 4,103 at the same time last year, an increase of 3.3 percent.
The increase builds on a modest increase seen in 2022 reversing a years-long trend of declining enrollment similar to those experienced throughout the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and in two-year colleges across the nation.
While students are slowly returning to the classroom after a couple of years battling the pandemic is certainly part of the increase, the college’s efforts to reach out to the community have been concentrated and intentional.
NRCC’s outreach includes attending community events and high school athletic games as well as hosting outreach hours at local libraries and community organizations. The college’s popular Access to Community College Education (ACCE) program, which provides a debt-free path to college education for local high school students, has also been a factor.
“We are pleased to see this positive trend in enrollment and to have so many students back on campus with us again,” said NRCC President Pat Huber.
New tuition assistance programs like the statewide G3 program also encourage students to return to college by helping with tuition. G3, which launched 2021, is a last-dollar tuition assistance program for low and middle-income Virginians focusing on early childhood education, health care, information technology, public safety and skilled trades.
Data for this report was based on information available on Oct. 20. Final fall semester enrollment information may change slightly. For more information about NRCC or how to enroll in classes, visit www.nr.edu.
