An unprecedented 22 percent jump in the number of students attending the state’s technical colleges has set a new annual enrollment record for the Technical College System of Georgia. The system’s 26 colleges enrolled 190,842 students in fiscal year 2010, which ended on June 30. The total beat the previous record high enrollment set in 2009 by more than 34,000 students.

Enrollment for Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) continues to climb. The college enrolled 9,795 students for fiscal year 2010. This is an increase of 11.2 percent (992 students) over the combined enrollment for both Coosa Valley Technical College and Northwestern Technical College for fiscal year 2009 of 8,803. Of those students, 4,927 are enrolled full time and 4,868 are part time.

GNTC enrolled 3,957 students at the Floyd County Campus, 1,234 students at the Gordon County Campus, 470 students at the Polk County Campus and 4,134 students at the Walker County Campus.

The number of GNTC students enrolled in online courses rose as well. In 2010, an average of 2,113 students took advantage of the online courses available each quarter.

GNTC has 3,742 males enrolled and 6,053 females enrolled at the college.

GNTC saw an increase in the number of students among each age group. The number of older adults pursuing their education is increasing with the effects of the economy:

Under 21: 2,350 students
21-25: 2,286 students
26-30: 1,395 students
31-35: 1,121 students
36-40: 920 students
Over 40: 1,723 students

The number of GNTC students using the Georgia HOPE grant increased. Out of the 9,795 students enrolled, 8,385 are receiving the grant. GNTC also has a large number of students that receive the federal Pell grant each year. For 2010, 5,143 students were awarded the Pell grant.

“The enrollment growth experienced at GNTC this past year is part of a statewide trend that sees many returning to college to upgrade skills, acquire new knowledge and prepare for the workforce,” said Vice President of Student Affairs Stuart Phillips. “We are proud that so many are choosing technical education as a means of better positioning themselves for the future.”

The surge in enrollment has been fueled in part by people who are either out of work or under-employed due to the stagnant economy. Those Georgians are turning to the technical colleges for training and skills enhancement in programs where the job outlook is more promising, like heath care, energy and the environment, information technology, and entrepreneurial trades such as plumbers and electricians.

“Even as the state grapples with its own budget issues, our technical colleges have accepted a record number of new students in search of the skill sets and knowledge that will better situate them for employment in today’s tough job market,” said TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson. “This amazing ability of the TCSG to welcome tens of thousands of new students during an economic downturn is a reflection of the high quality and immense dedication of the faculty and staff at each college.

“I commend Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s commitment to deliver the very best in technical education programs and provide every Georgia Northwestern Technical College student with the ability to find success in the Georgia workforce even in these most difficult of times."

The 26 technical colleges delivered 4.39 million credit hours of instruction in 2010, up from 3.49 million hours in 2009.

The effect of the economy is apparent among the student age groups, where the percent of enrollment increase rose as the ages got older:

Under 21: up 11% to 46,910 students
21-25: up 22% to 46,377 students
26-30: up 25% to 28,780 students
31-35: up 26% to 20,597 students
36-40: up 30% to 16,916 students
Over 40: up 32% to 31,262 students

There was also a significant jump in the number of TCSG students receiving the federal Pell and Georgia HOPE grants in the past year. Pell grants, which are based on financial need of the student and his or her family, were awarded to 89,019 TCSG students in 2010, a 53 percent increase over the 58,193 students who received the grants in 2009.

The number of TCSG students using the Georgia HOPE grant also grew by 26 percent, from 116,534 in 2009 to 147,046 in 2010. There is duplication in the Pell and HOPE grant totals as some students are eligible for both.

Tuition at the TCSG colleges is among the lowest in the Southeast, averaging about $2,700 a year. Almost 9 of every 10 TCSG students use federal and state grants to reduce a large portion of the out-of-pocket cost of their college education.

According to Mr. Jackson, two factors are at work that will determine the level of continued enrollment growth at the TCSG colleges. “What happens with the national and state economy is most certainly a wild card in our future enrollment. Also, more and more high school graduates and their parents are making the TCSG their first choice for a college education,” he said. “Long gone are the days of our technical colleges being Georgia’s best-kept secret for quality higher education and a pathway to a better career.”