ECC, MCC top charts for enrollment increases

Newly released figures show student populations at Elgin Community College and McHenry County College are growing faster than a majority of community colleges around the state.

An Illinois Community College Board enrollment report found double-digit enrollment increases from fall 2008 to fall 2009 at 19 of the 48 schools in the state.

McHenry County College showed the second highest percentage increase, behind Danville Area Community College, with 26.7 percent more students.

Elgin Community College was fourth on the list, seeing 19.2 percent growth.

Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove and Oakton Community College in Des Plaines saw 13.2 and 12.5 percent growth, respectively.

Besides more of them, community colleges reported that the students are taking heavier course loads than ever. The state saw nearly 10 percent growth in the number of students considered full-time.

Illinois Community College Board officials cited the economy as the driving force behind the increases.

"The severe economic crisis, the loss of jobs, the lower cost alternative to beginning a college education, all are driving people to our doors," said Guy Alongi, chairman of the college board said. "These figures act to reinforce the necessity of keeping our community colleges well-equipped and adequately funded to handle the demands that the public expects of them."