COD bucks trend with 3.3% enrollment boost

Enrollment climbed 3.3 percent over the past five years at the College of DuPage, bucking a statewide trend showing declines at most community colleges.

A report by the Illinois Community College Board indicates COD was one of just three of the state’s 39 community college districts to see an enrollment increase among full-time equivalent students between 2009 and 2013.

COD has added 529 such students since 2009 — the most of any community college in Illinois.

During that same five-year period, the average Illinois community college lost 495 full-time equivalent students. Statewide, such colleges lost 19,299 full-time equivalent students, or roughly 8.6 percent.

COD in September recorded its highest year-to-year enrollment since converting from quarters to semesters in 2005. Full-time enrollment reached 16,565 in September and the school’s total student population reached 28,627.

“Through the many initiatives we have taken, we are realizing our vision of becoming the primary college district residents choose for high quality education,” COD President Robert Brueder said in a written statement.