MnSCU enrollment keeps climbing, tops 200,000

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Enrollment topped 200,000 this fall in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, making it the fifth straight year of increases and setting a new record.

The system announced Monday that there were 203,756 students in its 32 colleges and universities, a 2.7 percent increase over last fall.

Community colleges around the country have been booming as adults go back to school to upgrade their skills in a tight job market, and MnSCU was no exception.

Enrollment growth among the system's 25 community and technical colleges averaged more than 3 percent. Enrollment grew nearly 8 percent among those 25 to 34 years old and nearly 6 percent among 35- to 44-year-old students.

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