Economy leads to dip in CC enrollment

Clarendon College’s fall enrollment is down from last year’s all time high but still secured a spot in the record books as the institution’s third highest enrollment in 121-year history.

The fall head count following the 12th class day last Wednesday settled at 1,589, which is down from last year’s figure of 1,639 and only one below the second highest enrollment of 1,590 set in 2017.

A strong economy and low unemployment typically leads to lower college enrollments, according to CC President Robert Riza.

“Unemployment is at 2½ percent right now,” Dr. Riza said. “If you can pass a drug screen, you can get a job.”

Riza said low unemployment hurts general enrollment as well as career technical programs, but he also said he still feels strongly about the programs being offered by CC.

“Our students are getting employed from our programs,” he said. “And it’s important to remember that we’ve pushed some of these career technical certifications down into the high schools. Some kids with a certificate can start making mid-30s to low-40s right out of high school, and that may be more than their parents make. That makes it hard to argue they should go to college.”

Some families also opt to send kids straight to universities over community colleges when they feel good about the economy, the president said.

Enrollment in Dr. Riza’s first fall semester enrollment in 2014 was 1,211, and Clarendon College has posted growth every fall except this one since then. This fall’s enrollment is still more than 31 percent higher than 2014’s headcount.

Enrollment on the Clarendon campus this fall is 316 compared to 340 last year, and residence halls in Clarendon are at 95 percent capacity.

Enrollment at the CC centers in Childress and Gray counties are down. Pampa is at 176 compared to 196 one year ago; and Childress is 32 compared to 34.

A total of 110 students are enrolled in strictly online classes, also known as distance education, this fall compared to 125 one year ago.

The main driver of CC’s enrollment growth has been dual credit offerings, which the college now has in 22 area school districts. That enrollment segment actually increased this year with 776 students taking dual credit classes up from 735 last fall and 678 two years ago.

“Over the last five years, we’ve increased dual credit head counts by about 225 percent,” Riza said. “Our credit hours through dual credit are up about 250 percent.”

Clarendon High School has 26 students enrolled in dual credit this semester. Hedley has 12.
The number of Donley County residents enrolled in traditional college classes is up this year with a total of 37 compared to 29 last year. Nine of those students are enrolled in CC’s Honors College.