Bishop State Reports 22% Increase in Fall 2023 Enrollment
MOBILE, Ala., October 16, 2023 – Bishop State Community College experienced a surge in fall enrollment for 2023, with a total of 3,608 students currently enrolled as of October.
This represents a 22% jump from the fall 2022 enrollment of 2,968 students, underscoring the college's continued commitment to providing accessible, high-quality education to the Mobile and Washington Counties.
“We are excited to see this impressive rise in enrollment at Bishop State Community College,” President Olivier Charles said.
“These enrollment numbers reflect our dedication to offering an outstanding educational experience to our students and our responsiveness to the evolving needs of our community,” he said. “It's a testament to the hard work and dedication of our faculty and staff who work to make Bishop State a leader in higher education."
Nationally, community colleges are making a modest resurgence from pandemic enrollment decreases. According to spring 2023 data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, community college enrollment rose 0.5 percent, up from a decrease of 8 percent in 2022.
“At Bishop State, we are seeing enrollment increases well above that national average, and we believe it’s because we’re agile to the needs of our local industries and working to bridge those gaps while serving the broadest range of students possible,” Charles said.
A key driver for this enrollment boost is Bishop State’s growing Office of Early College Programs, which includes dual enrollment partnerships with local high schools and home schools.
"Our commitment to fostering educational opportunities through early college programs and strategic partnerships with local high schools has been instrumental in achieving this remarkable milestone,” Charles said. “These initiatives have empowered students to pursue higher education earlier, easing the transition from high school to college while saving on tuition costs. We believe in creating a seamless educational journey, and these programs exemplify our dedication to accessibility and student success."
Bishop State leaders believe this substantial enrollment growth is a clear indicator of the community's trust in the college as one that offers affordability, flexibility, and a pathway to career success.
