For the second straight year, Battle Creek's Kellogg Community College appears on track for an 18 percent enrollment increase or approximately 2,000 additional students.
The college is experiencing a surge in non-traditional students returning to
KCC to earn their degree or upgrade their skills.
"To be successful in today's job market, you not only need employable skills, but also a strong educational foundation," says Interim President, Dr. Dennis Bona. Compared to counterparts with a high school diploma, Associate Degree graduates of KCC earn an additional $806 per month on average or over $350,000 over a person's lifetime.
Many of the students also are coming directly from the local high schools and will spend two years at KCC and then transfer to a four-year school. By doing so, students can save a significant amount of money. The annual tuition or KCC is approximately $2,400. The average
annual tuition at a Michigan public four-year college is $7,020 and the average annual tuition at a Michigan private four-year college is $26,273. By attending KCC for two years and then transferring to a four-year college instead of going directly to the four-year, on average, students could save anywhere from $9,000 to $48,000 or more.
In addition, the average class size of 20 or less offers students individualized attention they need to be success. "KCC students perform as well or better after transferring to four-year schools than the students who started at the four-year school," Bona says.
Kellogg Community College, with four campuses, also provides customized training services designed and delivered to area businesses and institutions and a wide range of lifelong learning programs or personal enrichment. Over the past several years, hundreds of small businesses have received specialized training for thousands of employees and dozens of small businesses and individuals through the college's customized training programs.
Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: Dr. Dennis Bona, KCC Interim President
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