Virginia community college enrollment down as career, technical education signups increase

J. Sargent Reynolds Community College in Henrico. (Photo courtesy WWBT)

The number of students registering for dual enrollment and career and technical education continues to grow in the commonwealth, but simultaneously, student enrollment at Virginia’s community colleges has declined by 7% over nearly a 10-year period, creating a financial strain on the system and negatively impacting smaller colleges, state researchers revealed Monday.

Results from a study conducted by researchers for the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, presented on Oct. 6, come as lawmakers weigh policy decisions, including funding support  for the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), ahead of the upcoming General Assembly Session beginning Jan. 14.

Researchers recommended that the state Board for Community Colleges initiate a strategic review and propose a plan for how the system can more efficiently deliver services, especially in regions with smaller colleges.

David Doré, VCCS chancellor, said at Monday’s presentation that he supports the report, which aligns with the system’s Accelerate Opportunity strategy plan to increase dual enrollment access, improve efficiency and enable stronger student outcomes.

“The importance of an efficient, transparent and unified community college system cannot be overstated,” said Doré. “As we look ahead, the Virginia community college system remains steadfast in its commitment to continuous improvement and accountability, always striving to meet the needs of our students, employers and communities.”

Researchers found that dual enrollment has increased at VCCS, growing by about 13,000 from 2021-22 school year to last school year. The state’s dual enrollment program allows students to earn college credits before graduating from high school with school divisions and colleges picking up the costs.

Virginia’s community colleges also relied more heavily on state funds in fiscal year 2024, with a 12% increase over the previous seven years. Declining enrollment and fixed costs, such as infrastructure and staffing, were contributing factors.

CTE programs are also being subsidized by community colleges with excess revenue from academic transfer programs, according to researchers. CTE programs typically cost VCCS more than academic transfer programs, at $466 per credit hour compared to $242 per credit hour.

Smaller colleges with fewer than 1,000 students are also spending more per student, around $21,000. Schools with 10,000 or more students spend $13,000.

VCCS informed researchers that the system has established a periodic review of individual colleges and implemented budget reductions in response to revenue declines, including staff layoffs.

Researchers also found that data predicts a reduction in the number of high school graduates in the future because of declining birth rates, changing opinions about the value of a college degree, growing interest in technical and career-focused training and the increased enrollment in online courses, which are impacting enrollment and costs.

The number of students taking online courses more than doubled, from 17% in the 2015-2016 school year to 41% in the 2024-2025 school year. In-person courses dropped from 39% to 11% during the same time period.

Researchers also found that students tend to be “less successful” in asynchronous courses, or those that allow students to complete their coursework on their own schedule, but the differences are not substantial. Success was defined as a student earning a “C” grade or above, or passing a pass/fail course.

The research team recommended VCCS require students retaking an asynchronous course that they failed or withdrew from to meet with an advisor, monitor their success and work with individual colleges to determine the root causes.

Researchers also found that CTE enrollment grew by 8% from the 2015-2016 and 2024-2025 school years. Most of the growth is attributed to the short-term training program Fast Forward, which is designed to prepare students for careers in high-demand fields, including health care, information technology and skilled trades.

VCCS should try to identify opportunities to improve the program, researchers recommended, including by evaluating whether completers obtain and keep their jobs in the field for which they are trained, and whether wages increase three to five years after a program’s completion.

Senate Subcommittee Chair on Higher Education Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, who sits on the commission, said she agrees with the recommendation and the effort by VCCS to review the trends and propose a plan to deliver services more efficiently.

With the financial strain on VCCS, she said, consolidating the 23 schools is not the best plan for the schools, students or communities, she said.

“There are some people who think that 23 is too many, but I don’t agree because some of these community colleges are kind of like the lifeblood of these communities,” Locke said to the Mercury. “All 23 need to remain, but with this, they can see how they can more effectively use the system.”