Plinske comments on MCC's growth

McHenry County College's growth is leading a statewide trend in community college enrollment.

“The surge in enrollment we have experienced this fall is in part due to the MCC Promise, but also due to current economic conditions and rising costs of higher education nationwide," said interim President Kathleen Plinske. "We have seen not only a significant increase in new students directly from our high schools, but also an increase in returning adult students. MCC is certainly the highest quality and most affordable option for higher education in our county."

MCC had the highest increase in credit enrollment statewide, and the second-highest increase in credit headcount. Headcount enrollment is the number of students who have paid fees and registered for classes, while full-time equivalency credit enrollment refers to the number of students taking a full class load – 15 hours.

MCC’s total headcount including adult education was 6,811 – a 26.7 percent increase from last year, according to records. The credit enrollment stands at 4,222, a 29.4 percent increase.

According to the Illinois Community College Board, full-time equivalency fall enrollments reached an all-time high of 223,353, an increase of 9.5 percent from the fall 2008 semester. The ICCB began collecting statewide enrollment information in 1965.