College of DuPage holds steady on fall headcount enrollment

College of DuPage leaders remain optimistic as to how the institution is weathering the pandemic, reporting that fall 2021 head count is down only a slight 0.8 percent over 2020 figures. This equates to 21,172 students this fall as compared to 21,267 students fall term 2020.

While the college's full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment is down 3.45 percent, this is roughly half of what was anticipated by COD leaders only a few months ago.

The college also showed gains among select student populations, with enrollment up approximately 6 percent among Latinx students and nearly 3 percent among Black students. The college also saw a rise among its general adult student population of those age 25 and older.

"Students continue to turn to College of DuPage for high-quality academics and for access to flexible course delivery," College of DuPage President Dr. Brian Caputo said. "We are very pleased to have performed far better than our projections. Our fall numbers show us that, while not immune to the impact of the pandemic, College of DuPage is on an upswing that we hope to continue as we navigate external challenges."

The fall 2021 semester features a mix of in-person, hybrid, virtual and traditional online courses. Prioritizing the safety and health of students, approximately 50 percent of fall course offerings are available as full in-person instruction or in a hybrid format that includes partial in-person instruction. Remaining sections are offered in a traditional online format or as virtual class meetings.

"Offering multiple course delivery options allows students to choose the best format for their learning styles," said COD Provost Mark Curtis-Chávez. "Regardless of how they choose to learn, whether it be online or in the classroom, students continue to have access to a variety of resources to support their educational journeys. Our faculty and staff are here to support our students and their variety of learning needs."

Registration remains open for the fall 12-week session, which begins Monday, Sept. 20, as well as an eight-week session, which begins Monday, Oct. 18. For more information, visit cod.edu/registration.

College of DuPage is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Serving approximately 21,000 students each term, College of DuPage is the largest public community college in the state of Illinois. The college grants seven associate degrees and offers more than 170 career and technical certificates in over 50 areas of study.