For the second straight semester, the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District showed significant enrollment growth compared to the previous year. The back-to-back enrollment increases come following double-digit reductions in student headcount during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fall semester classes started on Monday, Aug. 28, at Evergreen Valley College and San Jose City College (SJCC). Evergreen’s early enrollment numbers show an increase of 19.6% compared to last year, while SJCC’s early enrollment reflects an increase of 17.2%. A similar increase was seen in enrollment numbers at both colleges during the spring 2023 semester.
Regaining enrollment lost during the pandemic has been a point of emphasis for the district. Among the enrollment strategies has been a program providing free tuition and no fees to qualifying students enrolled in at least six units at either campus.
Both colleges have also increased dual credit offerings in partnership with local high schools, which allow students to earn both high school and college credit simultaneously and at no out-of-pocket cost to the student. The district has an extension campus in Milpitas, established in 2016.
Not only is overall enrollment up across the district, but it has increased in racial and ethnic groups compared to last fall, including American Indian students (32.6%), Asian American/Pacific Islander students (11.5%), Black/African American students (29%), Latinx students (16.1%), White students (42.3%) and multiracial students (7.9%).
