Sylmar : Spring Enrollment Up at Mission College

Spring semester enrollment at Mission College is up 10% over the same period last year, according to figures released Tuesday by the college.

William Norlund, college interim president, attributed the increase to improved marketing and stronger ties between the college and the community.

The Sylmar-based community college this year launched a direct-mail marketing campaign touting the benefits of the school and the wide variety of classes and seminars available, officials said.

Another factor that may have helped boost enrollment is a decrease in tuition costs for students who already have bachelor’s degrees. The new fees went into effect Jan. 1, reducing the cost from $50 to $13 per unit for degree holders. A typical community college course consists of three units.

Mission enrolled 6,176 students this semester, compared to 5,614 last spring, officials said. That means the college will receive more state funding this academic year, allowing the campus to offer more courses, officials said.