Lake Michigan College has seen growth in its enrollment for the second year in a row.
LMC Vice President of Enrollment, Marketing, and Government Relations Al Pscholka tells us they’re seeing increases across the board. He believes it’s because of all the ways a student could enroll and earn a degree or certificate without having to pay for tuition.
“I think what folks have come to understand and realize now is to come to the community college for two years, and at LMC it’s been free for the last couple of years, even before college the Community College Guarantee, there’s a great value there,” Pscholka said.
Pscholka says enrollment this fall is up 9%, while credit hours are up 12%. The increase has been driven by recent high school graduates as people realize they can save a bundle by getting in their first two years of college at a community college before transferring to a four-year institution.
“In Berrien County, a lot of families feel as if college is unreachable. College is not unreachable. We can find a financial aid package for your student that allows your student to go free or on a reduced tuition. So this is all about access.”
Pscholka says the increases in enrollment seen at LMC in recent years have themselves been increasing. In the fall of 2022, the college saw 300 new first-time students. This year, that number is 511.
Pscholka urges anyone interested in pursuing a higher education, even adults who have long since graduated high school, to contact a community college to learn about aid programs available.
