Enrollment has increased this semester at New River Community College (NRCC).
At this point in the spring semester, headcount enrollment stands at 3,754 compared to 3,565 at the same time last spring, an increase of 5.3 percent.
NRCC also saw a 3.3 percent increase in the fall semester.
These increases build on a modest growth 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 continue to return to the classroom in person after a couple of years battling the pandemic may be 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. NRCC will also be bringing back a previous event, NRCC Family Fun Fest, on April 6.
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 were based on information available on Mar. 19, 2024. Final spring semester enrollment information may change slightly. For more information about NRCC or how to enroll in classes, visit www.nr.edu. Registration for fall semester classes begins April 9.
New River Community College
