September 7, 2025

While overall fall enrollment numbers compared to the same time last year showed an increase of 5.3 percent in Mississippi among public two-year colleges, East Mississippi Community College’s fall enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year rose by 6.9 percent.

“This is a remarkable achievement that is a source of great pride for all of us at EMCC who work hard daily to make this great institution a place where students want to come and learn,” EMCC Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success Dr. Nikita Ashford-Ashworth said.

EMCC’s preliminary head count this year is 4,145 students, up from 3,877 students during the same time last year.

This follows on the heels of eight consecutive semesters of enrollment growth at EMCC for the spring and fall terms and marks the first time since 2018 that the college’s fall enrollment topped 4,000 students. Enrollment was up equally at both the college’s Scooba and Golden Triangle campuses.

EMCC also saw a 6.6 percent increase in the number of credit hours taken by students this fall, up from 45,938 credit hours taken in the fall of 2024 to 48,963 credit hours this term.

“Everything we do at EMCC is student-centered,” EMCC President Dr. Scott Alsobrooks said. “We are continually looking at ways to improve our students’ experience to ensure they are getting the best education possible. We are proactive in identifying and helping alleviate any barriers they may encounter during their time at EMCC. That work is paying off, not only in our enrollment but in the quality of education our students receive at this institution.”

The enrollment numbers for Mississippi’s colleges are compiled by the Mississippi Community College Board and are based on a preliminary headcount taken each year on the 10th day of the fall semester.

“In Mississippi, colleges report their enrollment numbers to MCCB on the same day of the fall term,” EMCC Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness Susan Baird said. “This is the standard number colleges use for benchmarking their preliminary enrollment numbers from year to year.”

One of the college’s goals has been to reach 30 percent enrollment in career technical programs, which was achieved this term, Baird said. There are 1,264 students enrolled in career technical programs this fall. That number does not include students enrolled in non-credit workforce training programs.

Audited enrollment numbers won’t be available until next spring. The enrollment increase follows on the heels of a 13.1 percent increase in enrollment at EMCC earlier this spring, which was the second highest enrollment bump in the state at the time.

Since 2021, EMCC has placed an emphasis on student engagement, reaching out to students prior to the start of a new term to identify potential enrollment obstacles, while keeping in contact with them throughout the school year and helping if there are warning signs, such as an increase in absenteeism or a drop in grades.

Several steps have been taken to bolster student support. For one, additional tutors have been added at both the Scooba and Golden Triangle campuses to assist students and software upgrades includes the use of Ellucian CRM Recruit, which tracks student interactions for immediate assessments. Another software allows for targeted student notifications via emails and texts to alert them to upcoming events and available assistance.

The offices of Admissions, Registrar and Financial Aid, that were scattered across EMCC’s Scooba and Golden Triangle campuses, have been relocated to the campuses’ student unions so all services are available at one location. The office of Advising, Retention and Student Success has also moved to the student union, as has the Veterans Affairs Certifying Official / Coordinator.

“Our vision of excellence has guided our growth mindset. This standard of excellence drives every implementation, empowering us to support our students in achieving their goals,” Ashford-Ashworth said. “At EMCC, our mission is to enhance the quality of life for our students and the community. We strive each day to live out this mission. Watch us as we continue to meet the needs of our students through innovation and creativity.”