Atlanta – More and more students are looking to the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) for the kind of affordable education and outstanding training that counts towards a rewarding job in today’s economy.

So many, in fact, that the TCSG just recorded its second-highest quarterly enrollment ever with 90,420 students in taking classes in Spring Quarter 2009, which is a 15.3% increase over the same time last year.

The current fiscal year now includes two of the three highest quarterly enrollments in TCSG history.  The third-highest enrollment was in Fall Quarter 2008, when the TCSG enrolled 90,246 students.  The system record of 91,838 students occurred in Fall Quarter 2003.

In all, 28 of the system’s 33 technical colleges reported double-digit increases over their Spring Quarter 2008 enrollment, and ten of those colleges reported enrollment growth of 20% or more.

The enrollment increase includes many students who are looking for additional training after suffering a layoff or who have had difficulty in their job search using their existing education credentials and job experience, a fact reflected in the student age groups. 

Specifically, there was an 18.3% increase TCSG students in the 21-25 age group, a 20.4% increase in those ages 26-30, an 18.9% increase in ages 31-35, a 20.8% increase among those 36-40, and a 17.6% increase in TCSG students over 40.  There was a 5.6% increase in TCSG students under 21.

A number of colleges reported enrollment increases of between 30% and 50% in some age groups.  (Individual college data is included in the attachment to this release).

All TCSG students benefit from low-cost state technical college tuition of less than $2,000 a year, which is made even more affordable by the Georgia HOPE grant and federal Pell grant.  Together, those grants will pay for most of a technical college education, saving TCSG students from the obligation of a college loan.

“Georgia’s technical colleges are a beacon of educational opportunity for every Georgian, especially in today’s difficult economy,” said TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson.  “Our colleges offer highly affordable and in-demand programs with the kind of hands-on training and individualized instruction that our students need to find their place in today’s workforce and build great careers for themselves.”

Georgia’s technical colleges offer more than 600 programs that lead to certificates of credit, diplomas and associate degrees. The TCSG’s largest program enrollment is in healthcare, with almost one-third of all students preparing for careers in the medical, dental and related fields.

Spring 09 - Spring 08 TCSG Enrollment Comparison