Students—including young cohorts—are favoring affordable programs that lead directly to career opportunities, and community colleges are answering the call.
Undergraduate certificate and associate degree enrollments each grew about 2% in fall 2025, while bachelor’s programs rose by less than 1%, according to the report. Community colleges now enroll 752,000 certificate students, up 28% from four years ago.
Only five of the 60 workforce training programs offered at Central New Mexico Community College are currently eligible, the president said in this New America webinar.
Institutions that ignore today's trends will be stuck fighting over a flattening population of traditionally aged students, a report from Education Dynamics warns.
The focus on career and technical education appears to be a driving factor in the enrollment growth at Illinois community colleges, providing students with opportunities in trades, short-term certificates and healthcare.
