Education: EMCC’s enrollment grows for ninth consecutive semester	
	
					
					

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			While overall fall enrollment numbers compared to the same time last year showed an increase of 2.6% in Mississippi among public two-year colleges, East Mississippi Community College’s fall enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year rose by 5%.
“Everyone at EMCC works daily to ensure that our students are getting the support and resources they need to succeed both in and outside the classroom,” said Nikita Ashford-Ashworth, vice president of enrollment management and student success.
EMCC’s preliminary head count this fall is 4,352 students, up from 4,145 students during the same time last year.
This follows on the heels of nine consecutive semesters of enrollment growth at EMCC for the spring and fall terms and marks the second time since 2018 that the college’s fall enrollment topped 4,000 students. Enrollment was up at all EMCC campuses.
“Our continuing growth is a testament to the quality education our students receive and is a direct result of the dedication of our faculty and staff to our mission of providing our students with an outstanding education and the skills needed to successfully embark on the next steps in their career or educational journeys,” President Scott Alsobrooks said.
Enrollment numbers for Mississippi’s colleges are compiled by the Mississippi Community College Board and are based on a preliminary headcount taken each year on the 10th day of the fall semester.
In Mississippi, colleges report their enrollment numbers to MCCB on the same day of the fall term, which is used to benchmark preliminary enrollment numbers from year to year. Audited enrollment numbers won’t be available until next spring.
Ashford-Ashworth credited EMCC’s enrollment growth to the college’s commitment for continual improvement.
“We have taken proactive steps at EMCC to engage students, bolster support services, identify potential educational obstacles and monitor progress for warning signs, such as increased absenteeism,” Ashford-Ashworth said. “Empowering our students to excel at EMCC is at the heart of everything we do.”
			
						
						
			
      
      
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