THE ILLINOIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD IS REPORTING AN INCREASE IN FALL ENROLLMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN A DECADE. 

OVERALL, ENROLLMENT GREW BY ONE AND A HALF PERCENT COMPARED TO LAST FALL, WITH 28 COMMUNITY COLLEGES REPORTING A RISE IN STUDENTS. 20 SCHOOLS SAW A DECREASE OVER THE YEAR. BOARD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BRIAN DURHAM:

DURHAM NOTES THAT ONLINE COURSES REMAIN POPULAR AS WELL, WITH 47 PERCENT OF STUDENTS CHOOSING THAT OPTION.

THERE WAS A 30 PERCENT INCREASE IN ADULT LEARNERS THIS FALL COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR. MORE CAREER AND TECHNICAL STUDENTS ARE COMING BACK AS WELL, SINCE MUCH OF THEIR WORK MUST BE DONE IN-PERSON.