Local News in Brief : South County : Enrollment Shows Gains at Community Colleges
Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College are showing enrollment increases as fall semester opened this week.
Diane Riopka, communications-publications officer for the Saddleback Community College District, which governs both colleges, said Tuesday that compared to a year ago, opening day enrollment was 9% higher at Irvine Valley College and 3% higher at Saddleback College.
Richard Sneed, chancellor of Saddleback Community College District, said general population growth in south Orange County is the main reason for the two colleges’ growth this fall. “In both colleges the growth is planned, and we anticipate further growth consistent with the general population increase in south Orange County,” he said.
Riopka also cited limits on enrollment growth at UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton as reasons more students are entering the community colleges.
Riopka said first-day enrollment Monday at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo totaled 17,261, compared to 16,773 a year ago. Irvine Valley had 4,984 students on Monday, compared to 4,585 a year ago.
Registration at both colleges continues through Friday.
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