PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Classes at Northern Maine Community College began on Monday, August 26 and early fall enrollment is up 10 percent, marking the third consecutive year of enrollment growth. In addition to higher enrollment, the campus is operating at full residential capacity, with nearly 100 students living in student housing while pursuing credentials.
“In the admissions office, we’re seeing several trends at once,” said NMCC Director of Admissions Sarah Stackhouse. “Incoming students are eager to gain skills and education that will differentiate them in the workforce and increase their earning power. They’re also becoming more aware of the financial benefits of choosing a community college and are looking for ways to graduate without debt or get a head start on a bachelor’s degree by taking advantage of transfer agreements with four-year institutions.”
Enrollment has been boosted by a Free College Scholarship that covers 100 percent of tuition and mandatory fees for recent high school graduates. In addition to increased financial support, more students are able to access programs through the College’s expanded flexibility with online and hybrid courses, as well as increased capacity in popular academic programs such as electrical construction technology and medical coding.
“It’s been exciting to have students back on campus this week,” said NMCC Interim President Angela Buck. “We’ve always offered a strong sense of community, but there’s an elevated energy on campus when our classrooms and labs are full or nearly filled with learners.”
Buck attributes a portion of the increased enrollment to the College’s alignment with the community’s workforce demands. “We continue to adapt our programs and curriculum to reflect the needs of our community, and that alignment is paying off. Our students are confident that at NMCC, they gain the education they need to enter high-demand careers.”
The Free College Scholarship, which started in fall 2022, was intended to re-engage people whose high school and early college experiences were disrupted by COVID, particularly since most community colleges serve higher percentages of first-generation and lower-income students.
New this fall are seamless transfer agreements with both public and private Maine colleges. Under these new agreements, NMCC graduates are guaranteed admission to 13 four-year colleges in Maine.
Over the summer, the Maine Community College System signed a new transfer agreement with the University of Maine System guaranteeing direct admission without having to fill out application forms, write essays, or pay application fees, providing a direct pathway to all seven universities in the University of Maine System. Additionally, individual agreements with six independent Maine colleges guarantee admission to certain programs. Already this fall, the University of Maine System is reporting a 39 percent increase in undergraduate transfer students.
Early fall enrollment figures do not include short-term workforce training students. NMCC’s Continuing Education division has students currently enrolled in the Mechanized Logging and Forest Trucking program, the Commercial Driving Academy, and Licensed Practical Nurse training.
For more information, please visit nmcc.edu or contact Admissions at 207-768-2785.
