WARNER, Oklahoma – Connors State College has reported an increase in enrollment for the Fall 2024 semester, continuing a trend of growth over the past three years. CSC has seen a remarkable 21.7% increase in overall enrollment since 2022, with the current student body numbering 2,133. This represents a 4.5% increase from Fall 2023, demonstrating consistent year-over-year growth.
The Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) enrollment has also shown significant improvement with a 7.3% increase from the previous year. Not only are more students enrolling at CSC, but they are also taking more credit hours on average. Enrollment for first-time freshmen has also steadily increased over the last few years, up 14.9% compared to 2022.
The diversity of CSC’s student body continues to be a point of pride for the institution. Students hail from 50 different Oklahoma counties, 23 states, and 13 nations. At the same time, Connors succeeds in serving local students with over half of the student population coming from Muskogee County alone. When considering Muskogee and its surrounding counties together, they account for 82% of the student body, highlighting CSC’s strong regional impact.
The growth at Connors State College aligns with a statewide trend of public higher education institutions contributing significantly to Oklahoma’s workforce. According to the 2023 Employment Outcomes Report from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, 90.7% of CSC graduates remain and work in Oklahoma one year after graduation, surpassing the state system average of 82.8%. Even more impressively, five years after graduation, 89.7% of CSC alumni continue to live and work in the state, compared to the state system average of 72.8%. This high retention rate demonstrates CSC’s commitment to educating students who will contribute to Oklahoma’s economy long-term.
“We are thrilled to see continued growth in our student body. This increase reflects the hard work of our faculty and staff, as well as the quality education and opportunities we provide. Our diverse student population and high in-state employment rates for graduates show that Connors State College is playing a crucial role in developing Oklahoma’s workforce and contributing to the state’s economic growth,” added Dr. Ron Ramming, President of Connors State College.
The college’s focus on meeting critical workforce needs is evident in its program offerings and the success of its graduates in finding employment within the state. As Oklahoma continues to emphasize the importance of higher education in driving economic development, Connors State College stands as a prime example of an institution delivering on that promise.
With students ranging from high school students enrolled concurrently to adult learners seeking new skills or career changes, CSC is well-positioned to continue its growth and impact on the local and state economy for years to come.
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Learn More About Connors State College:
Connors State College has a long history of providing the people of eastern Oklahoma with access to higher education. Since seating its first class of 17 students in 1908, the institution has grown into a comprehensive, multi-campus, two-year college that enrolls more than 3,000 students annually. To learn more about Connors State College or how to enroll, please visit connorsstate.edu.