Alabama Community Colleges Approaching Record-High Enrollment

Alabama’s community college system is approaching a 16-year enrollment record, with nearly 100,262 students enrolled in credit-based programs for Fall 2026 — just 1,686 short of the all-time high set in 2010 and a 3% jump over final fall 2025 figures.

The Alabama Community College System (ACCS), created by the Legislature in 1963 at the prompting of then-Governor George C. Wallace, did not emerge all at once. It evolved over decades from a collection of trade schools into the statewide higher education and workforce-training system it is today. Fall 2026 marks the sixth consecutive year of enrollment growth for the system.

There are 24 community and technical college campuses across the state, including the two Tuscaloosa campuses of Shelton State Community College (SSCC): Martin and Fredd.

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Fall semester enrollment for academic and technical programs at Shelton increased by more than 8% to 4,713. That is, however, well short of SSCC’s record enrollment of 7,069 in fall 2003.

In a press release, Shelton State Community College President Dr. Jonathan Koh said: “Shelton State’s mission is to meet people where they are and take them where they want to go.” He added that “increased enrollment indicates the people in our community are ready to pursue degrees, certifications, and non-credit courses that can lead to life-changing jobs and opportunities.”

Enrollment at West Alabama’s other ACCS campuses includes 4,603 at Bevill State Community College’s campuses in Jasper, Fayette, Hamilton and Sumiton, and 305 at Marion Military Institute.

The Alabama Community College System is bucking a national trend of declining enrollment in two- and four-year colleges and universities. ACCS Vice Chancellor of Student Success Neil Scott credited the work of each school president and staff for the increases. “Sixteen of our colleges are ahead in headcount, and these students are enrolled in over 836,000 credit hours,” Scott said. “That’s a 3% increase over the final fall 2025 number.”

Final ACCS enrollment figures will not be available until later in November.