Dec. 20, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College enrollment is expected to increase nearly 5% from a year ago, and students still have time to enroll before Winter 2022 classes start on Jan. 10.
As of this week, 10,186 students have enrolled for the Winter 2022 semester, up 4.8% from the 9,715 students a year ago.
About 50% of GRCC’s almost 2,000 available courses are being offered in person, in Grand Rapids and at the new Lakeshore Campus in Holland Township.
Two state programs covering the cost of in-district tuition continue to have an impact, helping students start -- or restart – a transformational college education.
“We’re excited to see more people are coming back and enrolling in their first college semester to take advantage of opportunities for a GRCC degree or certificate program to advance in their careers,” said Tina Hoxie, GRCC’s associate provost and dean of Student Affairs. “Students can take as few as two classes a semester to access state financial aid programs and keep moving forward, working around their busy schedules. There is still time to look at courses that are available, and take those next steps.”
Enrollment in Fall 2021 semester credit-seeking classes was up 4.4%.
GRCC has 903 Winter Semester students enrolled through Michigan Reconnect, which is available to residents ages 25 and older who do not already have a college degree. Additional information is available at grcc.edu/reconnect, by emailing reconnect@grcc.edu or by calling (616) 234-3366.
So far, 1,477 students have enrolled through Futures for Frontliners, which was available to residents who worked in essential fields during the state’s 2020 COVID-19 shutdown.
The Grand Rapids Promise Zone also removes cost as a barrier to enrolling. Students are eligible for this program if they have lived in Grand Rapids since grade 11, attended one of the 24 high schools in the city limits and graduated. Additional details are at grcc.edu/promisezone, emailing promisezone@grcc.edu or calling (616)234-4321.
Federal programs, such as Pell Grants, can also cover or reduce costs. Students can connect with GRCC financial aid specialists at financialaid@grcc.edu and (616) 234-4030 to learn more, or to receive assistance with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA.
GRCC offers courses in several formats that have proven popular, especially with students looking to start or restart their education through Michigan Reconnect. Hybrid classes are conducted partly on campus and partly online. Virtual classes meet online at set times with opportunities to engage with faculty and classmates. Traditional online classes allow students to log in and get started at any time of the day.
GRCC’s enrollment and admissions specialists are able to assist with the process and answer questions. The team can be contacted at admissions@grcc.edu and by phone at (616) 234-3300, with additional information at grcc.edu/enroll.