Clark College fall enrollment increases

Clark College’s fall enrollment exceeded the school’s expectations, President Karin Edwards announced in a video State of the College address last week.

Although enrollment hasn’t reached pre-pandemic levels, an additional 1,000 students took classes at Clark College this year. That surpassed the community college’s goal of increasing enrollment by 5 percent over the past three years, according to a news release from the college.

In fall 2019, about 12,000 students attended Clark. This year, 9,451 students are enrolled.

“In light of the current challenges facing higher education, we must remain true to our mission, values, students and the community we serve,” Edwards said in the news release.

Most students are Clark County natives, some are high school students in the Running Start program and more than half plan to transfer to a four-year college, with Washington State University as the leading option, according to the news release.

WSU Vancouver isn’t seeing the same growth as Clark College. In fall 2022, 2,833 students were enrolled at WSU Vancouver. The next year, enrollment dropped by 77 students and by 56 in fall 2024.

Clark College’s bachelor’s in applied science programs helped drive the college’s growth. The first cohort in the Bachelor of Applied Science in Teacher Education program graduated in August, and the medical assisting program earned accreditation last year, according to Clark College’s news release.

In the fall of 2024, Clark College launched a Basic Needs Hub, supplementing the Penguin Pantry, which fed 800 families last year. About 35 percent of students are low income, and 47 percent are first-generation students.

Students are also attending on-campus student club meetings 54 percent more in 2024 compared with the previous year, the news release states.

“Getting students to engage in clubs and activities started out slow after the pandemic, but as we scheduled more on-campus classes and expanded opportunities, students began to re-engage more,” Edwards said in an email.

Clark College is gearing up to launch new programs in September, including surgical technology, bachelor’s in computer science and advanced manufacturing, which will be housed in the new Advanced Manufacturing Center located at the Boschma Farms campus in Ridgefield. The center will offer a few classes beginning April 7 but will officially open for fall term, according to the news release.

Clark College’s finances remain stable. Because the college earned more revenue and spent less than expected, it had $1.8 million in additional funds that enabled the addition of six new positions, according to the news release.

This fall, Clark College is scheduled for an accreditation renewal, which is a requirement for federal financial aid and “a rigorous evaluation of quality and continuous improvement, ensuring that our college fulfills its mission and meets the highest standards to deliver exceptional educational opportunities to our students,” according to the news release.

Over $31 million in federal aid was distributed from the school’s financial aid office to students in the fall.

“I’d like to see continued growth in enrollment in both returning students and new students,” Edwards said. “I would also like to have certainty that we will have adequate support and funding from the federal government as we continue to serve all members of our community equitably.”

Brianna Murschel: 360-735-4534; [email protected]