COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — That’s what college leaders are saying, with school starting this week and enrollment numbers showing significant increases in every major category for the first time in more than a decade.
Overall enrollment is up 7% over last year, with 2,914 students enrolled at NIC as of Monday, compared to 2,717 students last fall.
In the career and technical education category, 179 first-time, degree-seeking students are enrolled, an increase over this time last year when 141 such students were enrolled.
These figures don’t include dual credit numbers because high schools haven’t started yet. Dual credit is expected to be up, too, with late-start classes factoring into enrollment numbers. Enrollment will be finalized Oct. 16.
“Diesel technology is full. Welding and HVAC are full. Our graphic design program had to open up another cohort to accommodate the demand — we’re back,” NIC President Nick Swayne said Friday. “People recognize the quality education they can receive at NIC. They recognize the huge number of opportunities we offer. And they can do it all on one of the most beautiful campuses in the country? It’s easy to see the attraction.”
The welding program is at capacity with 24 students, as are the diesel technology and HVAC programs, with 17 and 14 students, respectively.
The nursing program has a full cohort of 40 students. The radiography technology program is also full, with a 10-student cohort. Graphic design opened a new cohort after hitting a 16-student capacity; the second cohort is nearly full, with 14 students as of Monday.
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