Garrett College’s 2023-24 winter session enrollment produced a 52 percent increase in total students and a 46 percent increase in credit hours compared to the 2022-23 winter session.
A total of 114 students are taking 320 credit hours during the winter session, which serves as a bridge between the College’s major fall and spring semesters. A year earlier, 75 students took 209 credit hours.
The winter session marked the fourth consecutive semester where Garrett College’s credit hours have increased by a double-digit percentage.
“While winter is our smallest session by enrollment, the increases continue a pretty impressive upward trend,” said Dr. Robert “JR” Kerns, dean of student affairs. “The College registered increases in virtually every category we measure.”
In addition to overall credit hours and headcount, GC reported increases in first-time students (+33 percent), returning students (+21 percent), male students (+35 percent), and female students (+45 percent). The biggest percentage gain, however, was in High School Dual Enrollment (HSDE), which increased a whopping 240 percent.
HSDE, which went from 10 to 34 students, accounted for nearly 30 percent of the winter session enrollment.
“High School Dual Enrollment has been on the rise for most of the last decade,” noted Dr. Richard Midcap, Garrett College’s president, who credited the College’s strong relationship with Garrett County Public Schools for the growth in that area.