February 4, 2025

East Mississippi Community College’s enrollment for the spring of 2024-25 rose by a healthy 13.1 percent, far higher than the statewide average of 6.4 percent for all of Mississippi’s community colleges.

EMCC enrolled 3,523 students this term, up from 3,116 students during the same period last year.

EMCC’s spring enrollment growth marked the second highest percentage increase among the state’s community colleges. Jones College topped the list, narrowly edging out EMCC with an enrollment increase of 13.5 percent.

The enrollment numbers for Mississippi’s colleges are compiled by the Mississippi Community College Board and are based on a preliminary headcount taken each year on the 10th day of the fall semester. Audited enrollment numbers won’t be available until next fall.

Spring 2025 enrollment numbers nationwide are not yet available, but according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center total postsecondary enrollment for the fall of 2024 grew by 4.5 percent.

EMCC’s enrollment increase follows on the heels of prior growth. For the spring of 2022-23, there was an increase in enrollment of 4.4 percent and an increase of 8.3 percent that following fall, which was followed by a 4.7 percent increase in the spring of 2024 and an increase of 5.4 percent in the fall of 2024.

EMCC’s 40,029 credit hours taken this term also rose, up 8.5 percent from the 36,882 credits hours in the spring of 2023-24. EMCC’s increase in credit hours taken this fall is the third best among all community colleges in the state.

“We have worked hard to engage our students and promote our institution to high school students in our district,” EMCC President Dr. Scott Alsobrooks said. “I am happy that those efforts are paying off. Among other things, we have boosted our recruiting efforts and placed an emphasis on student engagement to ensure that students who choose EMCC have the resources they need to succeed.”

EMCC has launched several initiatives over the past couple of years to improve interactions with students and bolster student outcomes. Offices for all student-centric services, including the Business Office and those of Advising, Admissions, Registrar and Financial Aid were moved to the student unions on EMCC’s Golden Triangle and Scooba campuses.

Additional tutors were hired for both campuses and software upgrades were made to improve student communications, track student progress and identify potential educational barriers.

“When every facet of the college works toward the common goal — of educating and retaining our students with the right tools — it creates a formula for success,” EMCC Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success Dr. Nikita Ashford-Ashworth said.