CGTC breaks enrollment record with more than 12,700 students this fall

College leaders say affordable tuition and expanded student services are fueling a surge in enrollment.

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Central Georgia Technical College says it broke its attendance record this fall, enrolling more than 12,700 students, a 10 percent increase from last year.

JoBen Rivera-Thompson, the college’s director of marketing, says the rise in enrollment reflects CGTC’s focus on delivering a strong student experience and a quality education.

“It shows our efforts in providing a student experience and a quality of education that our community gets behind and wants to be a part of,” he said.

Tuition at CGTC is $107 per credit hour, and the school offers more than 200 programs. Rivera-Thompson says affordability plays a big role in why students choose the school, including those who want to save money before transferring to a four-year institution.

“Students can get their start here at an affordable cost, get those two years under their belt, and then move on to a bigger institution and better educational opportunities,” he said.

Current student Jordan Mathis says she chose CGTC because she wanted an affordable option without taking on student loan debt.

“I knew I didn’t want to take out loans, and I just didn’t want to put myself in financial ruin. So I felt like the best bet was to find something affordable but also be happy,” she said.

Mathis says the student experience, along with activities and support services on campus, helped make her decision.

The college says investments in student life including available housing, athletics, wellness clinics and counseling are drawing students from middle Georgia and beyond. Rivera-Thompson says those improvements are resonating with students and contributing to CGTC’s growth.

“Our students are recognizing the impact that we are making on our community,” he said. “And the types of services and educational opportunities that they have to experience at a higher education institution, and that makes us somewhere people want to be.”

College leaders say CGTC aims to prepare students to enter the workforce, join the military or transfer to four-year schools.