College of DuPage Exceeds Enrollment Goals, with Credit Enrollment Up 3.8 Percent

College of DuPage Spring 10th Day Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) enrollment is up 3.8 percent at 15,348. Credit Headcount is listed at 27,813, up 2.3 percent, and Total Headcount (including non-credit students) is 28,783, up 1.6 percent compared to last spring.

“We are thrilled with these numbers, which exceeded our expectations and directly reflect what we have known all along – College of DuPage is the best higher education value around,” said College of DuPage President Dr. Robert L. Breuder. “We are particularly pleased with the overall headcount increases, as these numbers reflect growth across the board in all of our traditional and non-traditional, credit and non-credit programs. This is an incredible achievement.”

A recent article in Inside Higher Education noted a pessimistic report by Moody's Investor Services which called into question all traditional revenue sources for higher education. The report noted that colleges will have to “address these challenges through better use of technology to cut costs, create efficiency in their operations, demonstrate value, reach new markets and prioritize programs.”

“We're doing all of these things,” Dr. Breuder said. “We have an academic and leadership team in place that is forward-thinking in terms of meeting the higher education needs of our students, while providing value for our taxpayers and community members. The fruits of our labors are demonstrated through the spring enrollment numbers.”

With more than 26,000 students, COD is the largest community college in Illinois, and third largest among the state's public colleges and universities. College of DuPage is nearing completion of a $550 million construction and renovation project that has built or improved nearly two million square feet of educational space at its Glen Ellyn campus. In addition, since 2009, the College has developed and implemented 49 new certificate and degree programs and has implemented 12 new “3+1” programs with partnering institutions that enable students to earn BA and BS degrees on COD's campus at a significantly reduced cost.

Click here for the College of DuPage Significant Institutional Outcomes web page. Click here for President Breuder's reflections on 2012 and forecast for the upcoming educational year.