NSCC Enrollment Over 3,400 For Spring Semester

Enrollment for the spring semester at Northwest State Community College on Monday, Jan. 21, was 3,440 students, said Michael Brown, director of public relations and marketing.

The number represents the head count at the college, which includes full- and part-time students, and those in both degree and certificate programs.

The figure is up 2.6%, or 86, from the spring semester 2007 figure of 3,354.

The total head count number fluctuates; on the first day of spring semester, Monday, Jan. 14, the number was 3,027.

Nearly a third of NSCC students are registered for online classes. Northwest State requires its students to complete at least one online class.

NSCC serves a five-county region: Fulton, Defiance, Henry, Paulding, and Williams counties.

"We serve a huge region," Brown said.

"Our average commute is 15- plus miles. But more and more people are recognizing a twoyear degree will help them go from earning $7, $8, and $9 an hour, to $40,000 a year. That's a huge economic boost, both for the individual and the region," Brown said.

NSCC does have limited class offering at regional campus centers in Metamora, Defiance, and Van Wert.

Brown said the response to the regional centers has been excellent.

"We've outgrown our space at the Defiance Regional Medical Center. We need more space," he said.

The college is fighting a couple of misconceptions. One is that college is only for people just out of high school.

Brown said the college is targeting people age 22 to 29 who grew up thinking they didn't need a college degree, "who are making $7 and $9 an hour, and realize they've got to do something."

Another misconception is a person can only start college in the spring or fall.

A group of eight-week classes at NSCC are scheduled to start March 10, he said.