Atlanta – Enrollment in the Technical College System of Georgia continues to grow at a record pace with 109,548 students currently attending winter quarter classes.

Today’s total is a 26% jump over last year and an increase of more than 22,000 students on the campuses of the state’s 28 technical colleges. It’s the system’s largest winter attendance ever and the second consecutive quarter with six-digit enrollment, following the all-time record of 110,940 students that was set last fall.

Locally, Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) has a record winter 2010 enrollment of 5,950 students. This is an increase of 947 students (18.9%) over the combined winter 2009 enrollment of 5,003 students for both Coosa Valley Technical College and Northwestern Technical College. The College’s Floyd County Campus has 2,311 students enrolled, 738 at the Gordon County Campus, 280 at the Polk County Campus, and 2,621 at the Walker County Campus.

“I believe our enrollment numbers are increasing because of the college’s reputation of being connected to the region’s employers and also because of our affordability,” stated Dr. Craig McDaniel, GTNC president. “When you have access to a SACS accredited college that is successful in putting people to work and it only costs $40 per credit hour for most programs, why would you not choose a technical college?”

With approximately 200 classes being offered online this quarter, GNTC has 2,222 students enrolled in at least one online class.

GNTC has 3,031 students enrolled full time and 2,919 enrolled part time at the college.

The slow economy continues to push the surge in enrollment as thousands of new students seek to improve their job outlook because they are either out of work or under-employed. The result is significantly higher enrollment numbers across every age group:

Over 40: increased by 43% to 18,726 students

36 - 40: increased by 40% to 9,808 students

31 - 35: increased by 30% to 11,639 students

26 - 30: increased by 30% to 16,137 students

21 - 25: increased by 23% to 26,202 students

The under 21 age group, traditionally made up of students who enter the technical colleges following graduation from high school, or because they either transferred from the university system or entered the workforce for a short time, also increased by 12% to 27,036 students.

“The Technical College System of Georgia is again proving its immense value to the people of Georgia as the education resource for anyone who wants to gain the kinds of skills and knowledge that result in great careers, even in today’s difficult economy,” said TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson. “Everyone, from recent high school graduates to Georgians looking to retrain and retool for new jobs, enjoy equal access to some of the best technical college programs in the country. It’s a great education at a low tuition that’s made all the more affordable by easy access to college grants.”

Georgia’s 28 technical colleges offer 600 programs that lead to in-demand jobs and careers. Almost 40% of all TCSG students are enrolled in healthcare programs, and thousands more are readying themselves for careers in areas ranging from aerospace, energy and the environment, and life sciences to more traditional trades like electronics, automotive technology and cosmetology.