Pearl River breaks enrollment records hitting historic headcount numbers while continuing to outpace the state average in credit hours

Laura O'Neill - PRCC Marketing & Communications Specialist

POPLARVILLE, Miss. — Record breaking enrollment and credit hours have Pearl River Community College celebrating its continued success in making higher education affordable, accessible, and efficient for its rapidly growing student body. 

The 2024 10th Day Enrollment Report published by the Mississippi Community College Board arrived with news of the record-setting enrollment of 6,093 students for the fall semester, shattering previous school and state records.  

Pearl River has seen a 24.81% growth in enrollment from 2017 to 2024 while the state average saw a drop of -7.27%. Pearl River is the only community college in the state to experience a significant headcount gain in that period.  

Credit hours are also up for the fall semester, with 82,820 credit hours registered for the fall semester. The new record for the school places it as the only Mississippi community college with a credit hour gain from 2017 to 2024 at a whopping 33.46% increase, while the state average saw a drop of 11%. 

“We are humbled by another year of record-breaking enrollment,” said PRCC President Dr. Adam Breerwood. “This growth is a direct reflection of our outstanding faculty and staff who work daily to provide life-changing opportunities for our students.  

“Our team has remained committed to exploring and implementing the best possible strategies to promote growth. This report provides confidence that our initiatives are opening doors for those who a seeking educational and workforce development opportunities.”    

CAMPUS GROWTH ACROSS ALL THREE LOCATIONS  

Pearl River has continued to invest in its student's success through building new establishments and expanding existing facilities. This investment is never more evident than on its three campuses in Poplarville, Forrest County and Hancock County and through the continued development of online offerings.  

August 5 was a day of celebration when the brand new Hancock Campus officially opened. Split between two structures, the Aviation and Aerospace Workforce Academy and the Frank Ladner Center for Aviation and Aerospace Training Hangar, the Hancock Campus is on Fred and Al Key Road near Hancock High School. Students from the coast now have a beautiful campus close to home where they can begin their journey, with options from aviation-focused career paths to more traditional academic paths. 

The Academy is a spacious 38,000-square-foot facility featuring eight classrooms, five labs, a reception area, faculty and staff offices, a library and testing center, an indoor student lounge with vending options, and an outdoor courtyard. Academic, Career and Technical Education, and Practical Nursing programs, workforce training, and adult education classes are offered at the facility. Complementing the facilities is an 18,000-square-foot hangar that opened its doors in August 2023. It features three classrooms with labs, a vast open hangar space with hands-on lab stations, an outdoor covered area for equipment training, a reception area within the lobby, and offices for faculty and staff. This hangar is the teaching ground for the Aviation Maintenance Technology and Unmanned Systems Technology programs.  

Focusing attention on Forrest County, the growing economy in the Pine Belt Region continues to provide ample opportunities for PRCC Forrest County Campus students to enter the workforce upon graduation.  

Meeting the needs of local healthcare entities is the driving force behind the continued growth of Allied Health and Nursing programs. Ground was broken earlier this year for a new Nursing Building & Annex adjacent to the Allied Health Building. The structure will contain both classrooms and labs. Once completed, enrollment capacity for the Associate Degree of Nursing Program at FCC to 200 students. 

With continued enrollment growth, the FCC will remodel Building 1, the original Forrest County Campus structure. It houses many classrooms, faculty office space, and science labs.   

Several construction projects are underway to accommodate the continued growth on the Poplarville Campus. After opening two new dorms in 2022, providing 230 beds, the waiting list for living on campus remains close to 600 students. Construction is underway for four new single-story dormitories near the PRCC Sports Complex. Student-athletes from baseball, soccer, and softball will be placed in the new dorms, freeing up 130 beds for other students.  

The Lineman Technology program will soon move into their new building on the backside of campus. This building will allow the program to continue to provide an excellent education just with more room for indoor training and classroom space. The program continues to operate at full capacity with a perpetual waiting list. 

A new Career and Technical Education building will also be constructed along Highway 11. It will house Barbering, Cosmetology, and Early Childhood Education programs with easier entry for community members accessing services. The current building near the front of campus will be torn down to make way for a large addition to the Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts. The addition will accommodate band practice space and other Fine Arts classes. 

Each project is to meet a need for continued growth at The River. 

HOW PRCC IS HAPPY TO HELP STUDENTS  

Pearl River has focused on customer service at the institution, particularly in how students are helped throughout the enrollment and retention process to heighten their knowledge about how to pay for college. It has been a mission of all staff at PRCC to raise the bar even higher this year when it comes to how students go through these processes and making sure they have all the tools needed to be successful.  

“Breaking enrollment records is not just a testament to our institution’s appeal, but a reflection of our unwavering commitment to exceptional service,” said Executive Vice President for Enrollment Services Candace Harper. “By prioritizing student needs and removing barriers to entry, we ensure that every individual’s journey with us is both transformative and seamless.  

Enrollment Management is an area that is constantly changing, and our staff has been exceptionally adaptive. We must listen to our students and adjust processes to meet their needs. That level of student service is crucial to success, and our college understands that!” 

Knowing where to find the answer to a question can be daunting. Assisting students with their questions each day, the Wildcat Hub is a key resource on campus. Questions can be asked via email, the online web chat feature, or by calling the school’s main phone line. If the answer is not already available, the helpful Wildcat Hub staff will seek out the answer. 

At Pearl River Community College, student success is a top priority. The advisement process sets the tone for each student’s academic experience, offering personalized guidance from the start. Advisement has increased its staff and services to meet the demands of the growing student population. 

With a focus on high-caliber instruction, PRCC’s dedicated faculty create a dynamic learning environment that prepares students for success in their chosen paths. Whether pursuing transfer degrees or Career Technical Education, students benefit from the expertise and commitment of our exceptional instructors. 

During their initial semester at PRCC, students are required to attend a financial counseling session with a counselor in the Office of Financial Aid. The session provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the financial aid process and available payment options which in turn helps to alleviate the financial burden on the student’s mental health. 

Many students can have part, or all, of their base tuition covered through scholarship opportunities. Academic scholarships are based on either the student’s ACT score or successful completion of a Career and Technical Education program at the high school level with at least a 3.0 GPA. 

Students are also eligible for a variety of service scholarships based on involvement in athletics and service endeavors while in college. Service scholarships can be stacked with academic or CTE scholarships. Service endeavors include activities such as The Spirit of the River Band, PRCC Cheer, PRCC Singers, River Navigators, and Resident Assistant.   

Additionally, students can qualify for hundreds of scholarships managed by the PRCC Development Foundation. These scholarships total over a million dollars each year and are made possible through the generosity of donors.   

Residents of Forrest and Hancock counties are eligible for the County Tuition Assistance Program (CTAP), which closes the gap between aid received from grants and scholarships and the cost of base tuition. Students must complete a FASFA form, a Foundation Scholarship application, file for state financial aid, and be a full-time student at PRCC.

More information is found at prcc.edu/financial-aid/ctap

EXPANSION OF PROGRAMS TO EMPLOY THE WORKFORCE 

The goal of the college is to prepare each student for the best possible life ahead, one where they are self-sufficient and upstanding members of their communities. PRCC is committed to providing the facilities and faculty for programs leading to career opportunities in the area.  

Meeting students where they are through asynchronous courses delivered through the eLearning Campus is a continued priority for PRCC. Online classes are popular with non-traditional students, including those who continue to work while furthering their education.    

Online enrollment has more than doubled since 2017. The number of students taking an online course saw a 134.98% increase while credit hours increased by 191.50%. Approximately 73.43% of students have at least one online class with 31.05% of students exclusively online.   

Students pursuing certificates or degrees in all Business Pathway Career Technical Programs (Accounting Technology, Graphic Design, Business & Marketing Management Technology, Business Management Technology, and Medical Billing & Coding) can do so completely online. Several general education courses can be taken through eLearning as can many for the new Cybersecurity Technology program. 

Allied Health, Career-Technical Education, and Workforce Development programs assist students to acquire the skills they need to secure positions that launch careers. Leadership in those areas works with local employers to create partnerships and unique opportunities for PRCC students. They also evaluate the needs of local communities to determine if new programs should be added.   

PRCC currently offers 44 different CTE pathways across its locations and continues to find new pathways and programs to offer that will work towards preparing students to enter the workforce well educated, well trained, and ready to provide top-notch services to our communities. The current list of options can be found at prcc.edu/academics/career-technical-education/ with links to each individual program’s information page.   

Pearl River is also proud to continuously support students when their path takes them on to university. Former PRCC students earning degrees from Mississippi IHL institutions has increased by 5.2% since 2018, while the state average has decreased by 6.9% in that same timeframe.   

The academic outcome is also seen in improved grade point averages. In 2023, the average GPA of PRCC transfer students that graduated from one of Mississippi IHLs was 3.24, up from 3.16 in 2018.   

MY STORY STARTS HERE 

Students and staff at The River embrace the Wildcat Way of Pride, Respect, Class, Character. Walking the Wildcat Way has been woven into yearly campaigns that promote not only school spirit, but a great call to become shining examples within our local communities and workforce.  

For the 2024 – 2024 school year, members of the PRCC family have been invited to share their stories of success through the “My Story Starts Here” campaign. The new theme encourages Wildcats to share their stories of their experiences at PRCC while pursuing a first-class education at The River. 

"At Pearl River Community College, the true essence of our institution is found in the personal stories of those who have walked with us at The River," said Dr. Kari Eve Valence, Director of Marketing and Recruitment. "We warmly invite our entire community to share their experiences and memories, as it's these heartfelt stories that transform Pearl River from a college into the Wildcat Family we cherish. 

“These stories are the foundation of our legacy, continually inspiring future Wildcats. We encourage everyone to participate and showcase what makes Pearl River so special—why it’s more than just a place to learn, but a place to live the 'Wildcat Way' with Pride, Respect, Class, and Character." 

Pearl River wants to hear from students, employees, alumni, and community members about their experiences at The River. Whether it is a story of an instructor who encouraged you to persevere through a challenging course, how a coach inspired you to become a better version of yourself, or sharing the amazing transformations seen in students as they grow over time, each story has value. We can find the true story behind PRCC through the thousands of individual stories.  

While a key component of a student’s experience at PRCC is educational, the process of students growing in confidence, building relationships, and finding their purpose far surpasses the grades on a transcript. Achievement-driven, compassionate faculty and staff help students carve the path to their triumphs in the classroom, on campus, and in the community and workplace. 

All these components work together to make Pearl River a place that welcomes all to start a new journey and gives them the necessary tools to be successful along the way.  

For the latest news on Pearl River Community College, visit PRCC.edu and follow us on Twitter (@PRCC_Wildcats), Instagram (PRCCWILDCATS), and Facebook (@PRCCMKTG). 

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