Coffeyville Community College (CCC) has achieved the highest enrollment growth of any community college in Kansas, according to the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) 2025 Fall Preliminary (20th Day) Enrollment Summary for Headcount.
“We are excited to share the results of our collective efforts in enrollment this year. Our institutional team has achieved an impressive 11.4% increase, thanks to the hard work of everyone involved,” said Dr. Aron Potter, Vice President of Academic Services. This represents the most significant one-year increase the college has seen in more than a decade.
Across Kansas, colleges and universities are experiencing steady growth, with total enrollment increasing by 2.2% for the third year in a row. While technical colleges posted the largest percentage gains statewide, CCC surpassed all other community colleges, with Kansas City Kansas Community College at 5.4% and Barton Community College at 5.0% reporting the next highest increases.
Dr. Potter added, “We have diligently served our prospective students throughout the recruitment process and added new programs in the technical division to address workforce needs.”
Vice President for Career & Technical Education Heather Pollett emphasized the importance of aligning CCC’s program growth with local and regional needs. “Coffeyville Community College has prioritized working with local business and industry partners to expand career and technical education programs that fulfill workforce demand,” Pollett said. “With the addition of three new programs this year, including Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Plumbing Technology, and Powersports Technology, CCC is helping to meet the needs of our industry partners while driving enrollment growth.”
Over the past two years, CCC has also expanded its technical division to include Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training. These initiatives were made possible through various state and federal grants, including a Kansas Workforce Development Grant, a Congressionally Directed Federal Grant, Perkins funding, and capital outlay support, which provides funding for major facility upgrades and long-term equipment purchases. These investments have allowed the college to hire faculty, upgrade classrooms and labs, and acquire specialized equipment to meet workforce demands, enabling the college to expand programs without adding extra costs for local taxpayers.
In addition to technical programs, CCC’s Pathways initiative continues to help students connect their coursework with long-term career or transfer goals. This approach keeps students focused on their futures while offering affordable education close to home.
“Every part of our institution has contributed to this growth,” said CCC President Dr. Thornburg. “The
Leadership Team is incredibly proud of our staff, coaches, and faculty members for this achievement.”
This milestone highlights CCC’s ongoing commitment to expanding opportunities and providing high-quality, affordable education for Southeast Kansas and beyond. With new programs, improved facilities, and a focus on helping students build meaningful careers, the college looks forward to maintaining this momentum and welcoming the next generation of learners.
The full statewide enrollment summary is available at stats.kansasregents.org under the Fall Census tab.