Oregon Public Broadcasting

Central Oregon Community College in Bend cut off student admissions at 5p.m. Thursday. The college enrolled a record 5500 students so far. 

And, as Ethan Lindsey reports, 7600 names are on waiting lists.

The Bend community college is so overloaded hundreds of students are fully admitted – and yet on the waiting list for every single class they want.

Most of Oregon’s 17 community colleges saw enrollment jump this year. The trend holds at 2-year schools across the U.S.

Karen Carter is the chief student services officer at Columbia Gorge Community College, in The Dalles.

Fall enrollment there is up 42 percent already over last year – and she says the real crush doesn’t come until after Labor Day.

Karen Carter: “It’s a wonderful problem to have, and community colleges are just tickled to death to see this enrollment growth. But its almost too much of a good thing.”

Carter says lost jobs and reduced family income also result in students staying closer to home for school – or simply choosing to attend a more affordable 2-year college.