FVCC reports drop in enrollment for 2014-2015 school year

Flathead Valley Community College has seen a decline in the number of enrolled students for the 2014-15 school year.

The preliminary numbers show full-time enrollment students at 1,426, down 73 or 4.9 percent from last year’s number.

Total headcount, including part-time students, was 2,161, down 55 students, or 2.5 percent.

FVCC President Jane Karas said those numbers aren’t finalized. They are likely to increase because of some late-starting classes.

As for the general drop in enrollment, Karas attributes that to an improving local economy.

“Due to the record low unemployment, many students are taking fewer classes while they work more to support themselves and their families,” Karas said.

At the end of the spring semester earlier this year, total enrollment had dropped 10 percent from the year before, from 1,605 to 1,441 full-time students.

The peak year of enrollment for FVCC was 2011, while the Flathead Valley was still in the throes of an economic downturn. The college averaged 2,105 full-time students per term and has declined since then. The demographics of the students leaving are mostly nontraditional students — those 22 or older — who have less time for education.

The college will have complete and finalized enrollment numbers next week.