Sheldon, Iowa — It’s a new school year for many. Northwest Iowa Community College (NCC) has announced that its Fall 2023 enrollment has reached 1,792 students, marking the second-largest fall class in the institution’s history dating back to 1966.
College officials tell us this enrollment figure reflects a 2.68% increase in credits compared to the previous year.
While the 1,792 enrolled students represent a slight decrease of approximately 1.05% from the record-breaking Fall 2022 enrollment of 1,811, college officials tell us it’s important to note that this year’s class surpasses the third-highest fall enrollment record, which occurred in the fall of 2019 with 1,777 students.
NCC officials remind us that NCC offers multiple terms and start dates throughout the year, making Fall enrollment just one data point in its academic calendar. They say an equally significant figure is the total, unduplicated headcount recorded at the end of the entire academic year. For example, in August 2023, concluding the 2022-2023 academic year, NCC achieved a total enrollment of 2,778 a 3% increase over the 2021-2022 academic year (2,701 total students for 2021-2022).
Kristin Kollbaum, Director of Marketing & Communications at NCC, stated, “This year’s fall class may be the second-largest incoming class in NCC’s history, but it signifies the highest level of credits ever taken from NCC. This indicates an increase in students pursuing full-time coursework compared to the previous year. Furthermore, it represents a 10% increase in enrollments over the past decade, underlining NCC’s strong commitment to providing high-quality, affordable, and accessible programs that align with the needs of Northwest Iowans.”
