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BSC reports 12-year enrollment record; reinforces commitment to student success and workforce development

Published: Feb 08 2024
BSC reports 12-year enrollment record; reinforces commitment to student success and workforce development - Photo
Bismarck State College (BSC) reports continued enrollment growth for the spring 2024 semester with 4,183 students enrolled in more than 100 career pathways – a 6% increase over the spring semester in 2023 and the most students enrolled at BSC since fall 2011. This is the second consecutive year BSC had more students enrolled in the spring than in the fall of the same academic year.
 
Solidifying its position as the third-largest institution in the North Dakota University System (NDUS), BSC credit hours increased by more than 8%, with students enrolled in approximately 39,000 credits this semester.
 
"This exceptional growth is a testament to Bismarck State College's commitment to preparing students for success in the workforce. Our enrollment figures reflect the strong demand for our programs and the vital role BSC plays in meeting the workforce needs of our communities and state," says BSC President Doug Jensen.
 
In line with its dedication to workforce development and student accessibility, BSC unveiled its Great Plains Promise last week, a groundbreaking initiative offering free tuition for eligible BSC first-year and transfer students enrolling for Fall 2024. The waiver program aims to remove financial barriers and empower students to pursue higher education to acquire the skills necessary to thrive in the workforce.
 
“Even with historic enrollment growth, our community and industry partners tell us they need more graduates to meet their workforce needs. Therefore, BSC created the Great Plains Promise in response to our communities’ workforce needs and as a benefit to students,” Jensen says.
 
BSC recently celebrated a construction milestone with a steel topping event for the region's only state-of-the-art polytechnic advanced technology center being built on the BSC campus. This facility, which broke ground in November 2022 adjacent to the BSC National Energy Center of Excellence, is designed to facilitate hands-on learning and industry collaboration and is set to be completed in November 2024.

Looking ahead, BSC anticipates enrollment will continue to increase as the polytechnic institution adds new academic programs in high-demand industries such as agriculture, cybersecurity, energy, health sciences, manufacturing and automation, and multiple others. 
 
“The more students we enroll in programs, the more we graduate and the more we can meet workforce needs. It’s a win for our students, and it’s also a win for economic, community, and workforce development,” Jensen says.