City Colleges of Chicago fall enrollment surpasses state and national averages again, shows strong gains for Black and Latine male students

 Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) reports City Colleges of Chicago enrollment is up again with a headcount increase of 9.2% for Fall 2024

 CHICAGO – (October 30, 2024) – City Colleges of Chicago’s (CCC) Fall 2024 headcount enrollment in credit and adult education programs combined is up 9.2%, higher than the state-wide average (+7.4%) for Illinois community colleges. City Colleges undergraduate credit enrollment increase (+10.2%) is higher than the national public community college average (+4.7%).  Continuing a trend, enrollment gains are particularly strong for Black male (+11%) and Latine male (+10%) credit students.

“This gain in enrollment is reflection of the hard work City Colleges of Chicago is doing to create a supportive and welcoming environment, one that offers academic excellence and prepares our students for careers in high growth and high demands careers,” said Chancellor Juan Salgado, City Colleges of Chicago.

All City Colleges experienced an increase in ICCB headcount enrollment with Kennedy-King College and Malcolm X College, and Olive-Harvey College seeing the highest growth, all above 10%.

The increase in overall enrollment follows City Colleges’ efforts to remove barriers and create greater opportunities that allow students to access and succeed in college, including:

• Affordability and student financial supports, such as:
  • Since 2018, City Colleges has invested nearly $100 million in free college programs, including:
    • Future Ready, which enables eligible Chicagoans to earn credentials and prepare for in-demand careers in fields as diverse as cybersecurity, healthcare, and manufacturing, at no cost.
    • The Star Scholarship, which helps to ensure that thousands of high-achieving Chicago high school graduates can attend college.
    • Fresh Start, City Colleges’ first debt forgiveness program
  • The Chicago Roadmap, an unprecedented partnership between Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and City Colleges of Chicago that has become a national model for equity efforts, including:
    • Significant enrollment growth in transitional math and English and early college (free dual enrollment/dual credit) courses
    • Post-secondary navigators supporting CPS students in the high school to college transition
    • Model pathways in in-demand industry sectors
    • Career and academic exploration for middle and high school students through Spotlight Days, among other efforts
  • Comprehensive student supports, including wellness centers and tele-mental health, liaisons for targeted student populations (i.e., undocumented students, students eligible for public benefits, housing insecure students, veterans, etc.), food, housing, and technology supports, first-year experience directors, advising, tutors, mentors, and more.
  • Work-based learning opportunities that allow students to get hands-on experience in an internship, apprenticeship, and research opportunities.
  • Partnerships with leading universities and employers that are helping inform the growth of high-demand programs in fields as diverse as: technology, engineering, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, business, education, transportation, distribution, logistics, and more.

City Colleges continues to make strategic improvements in enrollment management processes and systems and investments in marketing efforts.

“We’ve been successful in attracting students because City Colleges remains innovative and offers clear career pathways, certifications and many transfer options for students who want to progress on to earn a bachelor’s degree,” said Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Dr. Darryl A. Williams, City Colleges of Chicago. “Our enrollment is up again because we take an intentional approach to ensure that each student has the services and resources to focus on their education.”

The headcount enrollment increases at all seven of the City Colleges of Chicago are as follows: Harold Washington College (+4.5%), Harry S Truman (+9.6%), Kennedy-King (+18.3%), Malcolm X (+16.5%), Olive-Harvey (+14.5%), Richard J. Daley (+8.3%), and Wilbur Wright (+0.7%) for a total of 42,831 credit and adult education students enrolled in Fall 2024.

To view the full ICCB report, click here.

City Colleges of Chicago is the city’s most accessible higher education engine of socioeconomic mobility and racial equity—empowering all Chicagoans to take part in building a stronger and more just city. Learn more about City Colleges of Chicago at www.ccc.edu or call 773-COLLEGE.