(Bucks County Courier Times, December 30, 2009) Online learning boosts are part of the increase in BCCC's enrollment.
 
Between the economy, students considering less expensive schools, and online learning, the last decade has been community colleges' time to shine.
 
"Community colleges clearly have come into their own in the last 10 years," said Karen Dawkins, Bucks County Community College's vice president and dean of student affairs. "It has a lot to do with accessibility, affordability, the economy, the quality of education and the fact that students can transfer."
 
In the first 10 years of the millennium, BCCC has added two new campuses in Lower and Upper Bucks and continues to expand those programs, Dawkins said.
 
The college's enrollment recently reached an all-time high with 11,492 students, a 10 percent increase from this time last year. That was fueled by high school grads trying to save money and adults enrolling in the displaced workers program.
 
The plan, which runs through August 2010, offers laid-off, full-time workers the opportunity to earn up to 30 free credit hours on a space-available basis.
 
As of early September, fall enrollment at Montgomery County Community College totaled 14,308 students, up 48 percent from the fall of 2001's figure of 9,669, administrators said.
 
That's due to a growth in the county along the Route 422 corridor in Pottstown, as well as a demand for more online learning opportunities. With 3,000 students signed up this semester, online enrollment has increased 33 percent in one year, said President Karen Stout.
 
Besides expanding programs and transfer agreements, and reintroducing intercollegiate athletics, MCCC has also been renovating its two primary campuses in Pottstown and Whitpain, Stout said.
 
"More parents are sending their students to community colleges," she said. "It's no longer looked at as the last choice. It's looked at as the smart choice."
 
There are similar trends across the country. Enrollment in two-year institutions, often used by students as a springboard to four-year schools, stands at about 12 million and is expected to continue to go up, according to the American Association of Community Colleges.
 
Part of that reason could be online offerings. BCCC's eLearning doubled from 5,000 seats in 2006-07 to 10,000 in 2008-09 and increased 37 percent from last year, said Maureen McCreadie, dean of learning resources.
 
"The big surge occurred when gas prices skyrocketed," she said. "Now, online learning represents more than 15 percent of our total enrollment."
 
But the boost also reflects cost, which could be up to 50 percent less than four-year schools.
 
Last year, the average public school tuition rose 6.4 percent to more than $6,500. Private institutions' costs increased to more than $25,100, a 5.9 percent change, according to the college board.
 
More than half of pupils across the nation are considering less expensive colleges, according to an online survey.
 
Montgomery County Community College charges $90 a credit and BCCC costs $99. Delaware County Community College charges about $122 a credit and Community College of Philadelphia costs roughly $147 a credit, administrators said.
 
Over the past several years, guidance counselors admit they've seen a drop in pupils applying to private schools and a jump in numbers looking for public institution acceptance.
 
Advisers still encourage kids to go for their gold, though, because increased applicants at less costly schools means more competition.
 
The richest, most selective schools such as Harvard, Princeton and Yale universities have remained unaffected due to the large size of their endowments, officials said.
 
Holy Family administrators have reported a gradual increase in enrollment over the past four years. Delaware Valley College administrators said their numbers have grown 21 percent in the last five years.
 
By RACHEL CANELLI