SLCC joins national trend of declining enrollment

SALT LAKE CITY — Community college enrollment rates are dropping across the country, including here in Utah.

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reported that community college enrollment rates fell 37% in the last 13 years.

Utah is seeing a decrease of its own with enrollment rates dropping 17% at Salt Lake Community College, since the 2016-17 year. Four thousand fewer students enrolled in the 2021-2022 school year than in the 2016-2017 school year.

Although community colleges are cheaper than four-year universities, many question the quality of the education and support they provide. Community colleges get less government money to spend per student.

Additionally, the research center also found four out of five community college students say they plan to go on and complete a bachelor’s degree. However, only one in six students actually do.

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