As Access Expands, CSM Enrollment Continues to Increase     

The hallways and classrooms at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) campuses are teeming with student life this fall – part and parcel because student enrollment is on the rise at CSM mirroring the recent trend in higher education across Maryland and the country.    

At the close of fiscal year 2024 in July, CSM saw a total of 14,971 credit and non-credit learners for the academic year, including summer, fall, winter and spring semesters. The number represented an increase of 4.5% over the fiscal year before.   

Nationwide, there was an increase of 3% in enrollment at community colleges last fall, according to a report by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. The higher numbers are being driven by an increase in dual enrollment and adult learners.  

Overall, undergraduate enrollment across all higher education sectors is up 3% this fall, the preliminary report says. Public two-year colleges are seeing a 4.7% bump, while primarily associate-degree granting baccalaureate institutions (PABs) are seeing a 5.2% increase. Since fall 2022, public two-year colleges have seen an 8.8% increase in enrollments; PABs have seen a 7.4% over the same period.   

Of the 14,971 students attending CSM, 7,952 students were enrolled in credit classes, an increase of 4.3% over the year before. There were 7,304 continuing education students (non-credit/trade/personal enrichment) attending CSM in FY24, an increase of 4.1% over the year before.    

Data for the current fall semester at CSM showed the November headcount was just over 5,000 students at 5,062, an increase of 1.6% over the fall 2023 student headcount of 4,984.   

“We are very encouraged to see our student enrollment figures continue to increase over the last two years,” said CSM President Dr. Yolanda Wilson. “The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a dip in enrollment numbers across the higher education sector, and CSM was not alone in experiencing a decrease. We are very pleased and encouraged to see learners returning to our campuses.”   

Earlier this year, CSM unveiled its “"Built for Success" strategic plan, which sets enrollment goals as part of its three main pillars of access, momentum, and mobility. “These pillars reflect our commitment to expanding access to educational opportunities, to retaining students with resources and services to help them be successful while they are learning with us, and to enhancing their success post completion,” explained Wilson.   

Hundreds of degrees earned in last fiscal year   

In FY’24, CSM bestowed a total of 2,047 awards to its students: 753 degrees; 555 credit certificates, 334 letters of recognition, and 405 continuing education certificates.    

The top five degrees awarded to CSM graduates were: Arts and Sciences, Associate of Arts; Nursing, Associate of Science; Business Administration, Associate of Science; Cybersecurity, Associate of Applied Science; and Arts and Sciences: Social Sciences, Associate of Arts.    

The top five continuing education certificates awarded in FY’24 were: Class A truck driver; home inspector, dental assistant, heating, ventilation and air conditioning helper, and a tie for National Electric Code Refresher and home improvement contractor.