Enrollment Jumps at Northwest Tech

Enrollment Jumps at Northwest Tech - Goodland, KS. (09/28/2023)  –  Campus leaders at Northwest Tech suspected it would be a good year for enrollment during dorm move-in weekend back in August. “Applications for housing were up significantly this year, and that is usually a good final indicator of where enrollment would be,” said Jason Showalter, Northwest Tech Vice President of Student Advancement. “We are excited to see so many students on campus this year.”

According to the recent press release from the Kansas Board of Regents, enrollment headcount at Northwest Tech was up 8.9% from the same time last year. When looking back over the past ten years, the college has grown 15.8%. Campus officials credit the increase to marketing and recruiting efforts, strong legislative support, expanded Early College programs with area high schools, and unwavering support from industry partners. “Our business and industry partners are in desperate need of skilled graduates and are really stepping up to address demand,” said Ben Schears, Northwest Tech President. “We have more employers directly sponsoring student’s education at the college than ever before.”

Technical college enrollment growth is not only limited to one technical college, in fact, Kansas technical colleges achieved a significant milestone this year – a decade of enrollment growth across the entire sector. Over the past ten years, Kansas Technical Colleges have consistently demonstrated their dedication to providing high-quality education and training opportunities to students. According to the KBOR enrollment report, the technical college sector has experienced an astounding overall FTE growth of 27.4%. Notably, headcount enrollment has skyrocketed by an impressive 70% during the same period, underscoring the pivotal role these technical colleges play in shaping the future workforce.

Kansas technical colleges express their profound appreciation to their local communities, employers, the Kansas Board of Regents, and state government for their steadfast support over the past decade. This collaborative effort has driven progress and prosperity for Kansas, solidifying the commitment to excellence in education and workforce development.

“We appreciate the support from legislators, high school counselors, industry, communities, and especially our students for choosing Northwest Tech,” said Schears. “We are excited about where enrollment came in this year and are already back on the road, recruiting the next class.”

Read full details of the Kansas Board of Regents report here: https://www.kansasregents.org/about/news-releases/2023-news-releases/864-board-of-regents-announces-2023-fall-semester-enrollment