LEESBURG, Fla. – Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) kicked off the new academic year with a record-breaking enrollment for Fall 2024 – 6,057 students in degree-seeking programs. Across all programs, including youth, non-credit, and workforce credential programs, the College expects to serve over 9,000 students for the first time during the 2024–2025 academic year, with plans to exceed 10,000 students by 2026.

According to the National Student Clearinghouse, enrollment at community colleges is surging nationwide as students seek to maximize the return on their investment in higher education. At Lake-Sumter State College, this fall’s numbers represent a 15.9% growth from one year ago.

“The College is committed to increasing access to higher education across Lake and Sumter Counties as one of our strategic priorities,” said Dr. Joseph Mews, Vice President of Enrollment & Student Affairs. “We are proud of our historic enrollment growth toward this goal. We are seeing growth across all student types and credentials, while also reducing their out-of-pocket expenses through financial aid and scholarship opportunities.”

Highlights for Fall 2024:

• 6,057: Total students enrolled, an increase of 833 students from last year’s record
• 1,108: Record number of students classified as first-time-in-college
• 364: Highest number of students enrolled in bachelor’s programs
• 91%: Percentage of students residing in Lake or Sumter County
• 69%: Students who are 21 and under
• 27.7%: Record Hispanic student population
• Double-digit enrollment growth in all service areas – North Lake, South Lake, North Sumter, and South Sumter
• Seated course enrollment in Leesburg and South Lake has grown by over 20% compared to last fall
• Fastest growing age demographics are the 15-18 and 25-34 age groups

“We are proud that so many students and families in Lake and Sumter Counties see the value of an education from Lake-Sumter State College,” said Dr. Mews. “These record-breaking numbers reflect the dedication of our faculty and staff to the success of our students, through rising retention rates and enhanced student and academic support initiatives.”

Although online courses continue to be a popular choice for students, on-campus courses are experiencing a resurgence. Compared to last fall, the Leesburg Campus saw a 22.5% increase in on-campus enrollments, and the South Lake Campus saw a 24.1% increase.

“We continue to focus on offering math and science courses with on-campus options as our data shows that students in these subjects typically perform better when they can engage face-to-face with their professors and peers,” shared Karen Hogans, Vice President of Academic Affairs. “We are also excited to see more students, in all course types, visiting campus more frequently to utilize the Academic Success Centers, where they can meet with instructors or peer tutors for support outside of the classroom.”

After being designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) for the first time last year, this year’s growth in the Hispanic student population ensures that LSSC will maintain its HSI designation, as recognized by Excelencia in Higher Education.

Students can still enroll this fall for 7-week classes starting on October 14, or for Spring 2025 with classes beginning on January 13. Visit enroll.lssc.edu to learn more.