Southwestern College’s spring enrollment figures overturned usual patterns and showed the most students ever enrolled at the college.
            Traditionally, spring enrollment drops from the fall semester, as some students graduate at the end of that period. SC’s enrollment trended upwards, though, and official spring enrollment was 1,904. This was up from last fall’s 1,823.
            Enrollment includes undergraduate and graduate students on the main campus in Winfield, and undergraduate and graduate learners in professional studies (on-ground locations and online).
            The boost can largely be credited to increases in undergraduate enrollments in professional studies, where SC’s strength in offering classes to military learners has been apparent. The master of education program (both main campus and professional studies) also made significant gains.
            “This strength of enrollment is an important signal for the college, and for our constituents, that private education remains strong and viable even in tough economic times,” said President Dick Merriman. “We are delighted to see the numbers validate the decisions we’ve made in the past several years.”