North Central Michigan College’s winter enrollment increased by 5.7% over Winter 2023, with growth in both new and returning students.

NCMC’s Winter 2024 enrollment is 1,755 students, with the number of new students increasing by 50%. The college’s fall-to-winter persistence rate (students enrolled during Fall 2023 who re-enrolled for Winter 2024) increased by 16%.

Erin Sonneveldt, North Central’s associate dean of Institutional Research and Assessment, also noted the following:

  • Full-time Enrollment Equivalency (FTE), which aggregates part-time students into full-time students, increased by 10%.
  • The number of Spring 2023 high school graduates from the college’s service area that enrolled in winter courses increased by 11%.

Corey Lansing, director of Admission, cited a campuswide focus on belonging and student success as critical to the college’s enrollment success.

 “One of the benefits of a smaller campus is our family atmosphere, and that means coming together to help our students when they need it,” Lansing said. “Team members across the college work to identify students who might need extra support, then connect them with campus and community resources.”

Such resources include North Central’s Student Emergency Fund, which provides financial assistance to students who have exhausted all other resources and have nowhere else to turn for unexpected financial hardships including unforeseen medical expenses, housing crises, and car trouble.

“Many times, being able to afford an unexpected car repair can mean the difference between a student finishing a degree or withdrawing with just a semester left until graduation,” Lansing said.

Another resource, the Campus Cupboard student food pantry, expanded its services last fall to include a once-weekly, discreet self-shopping experience, when students can acquire fresh fruits and vegetables, canned goods, dairy products, and personal hygiene items.

“The success of both these resources depends on the generosity of our donors and our faculty and staff,” said Chelsea Platte, NCMC Foundation executive director and vice president for Advancement. “Time and again, when we’ve approached them with an opportunity to support our students, they have enthusiastically obliged.”

While the college celebrates enrollment growth, Lansing expects there will be an even sharper focus on retaining North Central’s large population of dual and concurrently enrolled students so they might complete an associate degree prior to transferring to a four-year university.

“We know our dual and concurrent students understand the benefits of getting a head start on their college credits,” Lansing said. “We also know they are becoming more financially savvy. As we expand our academic offerings and communicate our value to them, we believe they will appreciate even more the benefits of saving on their first two years of a bachelor’s degree.”

In addition to its traditional students, North Central serves more than 100 learners each year through its Fast Track career programs, and more than 5,000 individuals via its Lifelong Learning offerings. 

Registration for North Central’s Fall 2024 semester opens on March 13. Summer registration is open now.