Officials cite the school’s 3+1 program as continuing to have an immediate impact with students throughout the county.
Burlington County Freeholder Deputy Director Linda Hughes and Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC) Acting President Michael Cioce announced today that RCBC’s enrollment increased 3 percent this spring, marking the third consecutive semester of enrollment growth for the school.
Officials cite the school’s 3+1 program as continuing to have an immediate impact with students and parents throughout the county and region. RCBC previously achieved enrollment increases in the spring and fall 2017 terms.
“As Freeholder liaison to Rowan College at Burlington County, and a former RCBC trustee, I am thrilled to see the continued growth of the college,” Hughes said. “Our 3+1 program is putting higher education within the reach of thousands of Burlington County residents by allowing students to earn a high-quality, four-year degree for under $30,000, far less than what many colleges charge for a single year.”
RCBC’s enrollment increase is particularly telling of the effect the college’s 3+1 path to a four-year degree is having in Burlington County, in which students remain at RCBC for their junior-year credits toward a Rowan University bachelor’s degree. The college’s growth this spring is fueled largely by increases in new students (2.3 percent), full-time students (5.9 percent), and students who remain at RCBC from the fall semester (3 percent).
There are more than 300 students taking junior-year courses as 3+1 students this term, with another 323 students who are committed to begin their courses in a future term. More than 400 additional students have expressed interest in the program.
“Community college enrollment has decreased nearly six percent in two years so we’re very proud that all of our initiatives have resulted in three consecutive terms of enrollment increases,” Cioce said. “When many colleges express relief over flat enrollment, it is so rewarding to see the hard work of our students, faculty and staff result in sustainable growth.”
