Hudson County Community College Achieves 8% Enrollment Growth for Fall 2025

This increased enrollment comes at a time when many colleges around the nation are contending with decreased enrollment for a variety of reasons, including demographic changes and concerns about cost and affordability.

However, HCCC is bucking the trend and driving increased enrollment thanks to an array of innovative programs and initiatives designed to meet students where they are while promoting student success and resilience, and supporting students’ whole life needs through a culture of care.  “The strong fall numbers underscore what we have long believed – when students are supported and engaged year-round, they persist and thrive,” said HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber.

HCCC’s work with Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national nonprofit network dedicated to helping community college students succeed and achieve greater economic opportunities, has played a central and dynamic role in improving student retention while keeping more students on track for graduation.

HCCC has worked with coaches from the organization to create the award-winning Hudson Scholars Program. Hudson Scholars combines proactive advising, mentoring, financial stipends, and early academic intervention to help students stay on track and reach the finish line of graduation. Since its launch in 2021, the program has supported more than 5,000 students, nearly doubled the College’s three-year completion rate, and has become financially self-sustaining.

The College’s two-year completion rate has increased from “nearly zero” to 12% over the last several years.  Hudson Scholars has also narrowed long-standing equity gaps for traditionally underrepresented students by as much as 70%. The positive impact of HCCC’s work with Achieving the Dream and the Hudson Scholars Program is further evidenced by the fact that the College has achieved five consecutive record graduating classes.  

The Hudson Scholars Program has achieved nationwide acclaim and earned prestigious awards including the 2024 National Bellwether Legacy Award, the 2023 National Bellwether Award for Instructional Programs and Services, and the League for Innovation in the Community College’s 2021-22 Innovation of the Year Award.

Another way that HCCC is meeting today’s students on their terms is through its Early College program, which provides area high school students with a jump start on their education and career journeys. Data show that students earning college credits while in high school are more likely to earn their baccalaureate degrees.  Providing students with this opportunity increases student success while narrowing equity gaps. Early College saves students tuition and enhances economic mobility. Early College students can take up to 18 college-level credits per academic year, and earn their associate degrees from HCCC while still in high school.

Last year, over 1,100 students took courses through HCCC’s Early College program (in both the Fall and Spring semesters), and 48 high school students earned their Associate Degrees at the College’s May 2025 Commencement before graduating high school. Enrollment in the program has steadily increased each Fall since 2022, and this Fall, 1,051 students are enrolled in the program, a 19.3% increase from Fall 2024. HCCC maintains partnerships with local high schools throughout Hudson County as well as in Newark, West Orange, Irvington and Cranford.

HCCC’s extensive outreach to engage returning adult learners is also contributing to the enrollment gains. HCCC recently participated in the Jobs for the Future/Achieving The Dream Improving Economic Mobility for Adult Learners Initiative. The College also piloted the Hudson Scholars program with 400 returning adult HCCC students and observed a significant increase in their Spring-to-Fall retention rate, rising from 50% in 2023 to 58.5% in 2024. Based on these results, the College is inviting this population to participate in the Hudson Scholars program going forward as part of the Hudson Scholars expansion plan.

HCCC is also expanding and updating its Credit for Prior Learning policies to give adult learners credit for prior experience and education, thereby reducing their time to degree completion. Additionally, with support from the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) and ReUp Education, HCCC is proactively reaching out to former HCCC students to encourage them to return and complete their degrees. This fall, HCCC has retained 579 returning students and welcomed an additional 183 returning students who have newly reenrolled at HCCC. The College is currently running a digital marketing campaign to engage with Hudson County residents with Some College, No Degree.

The college-wide enrollment increase is also powered in part by HCCC’s highly successful Summer Enrollment Initiative, which continues to change the way students utilize the summer months as part of their educational journey. This summer, over 3,500 students enrolled in HCCC’s first summer session, smashing the previous record from 14 years ago by more than 650 students. This surge in enrollment also represented a 45% year-over-year increase. Data show that continuing students who enrolled in Summer 2025 classes were more than twice as likely to register for classes in Fall 2025 than their peers who did not take summer courses.

John Urgola, HCCC’s Associate Vice President for Institutional Research, emphasized the importance of data in shaping this success: “The numbers speak for themselves. Our analysis consistently shows the impact of summer enrollment on persistence, and this fall’s re-enrollment growth is proof. By letting the data inform our strategy, we’ve been able to design initiatives that both boost enrollment and contribute to student outcomes.”

Dean of Enrollment Services Matthew Fessler added, “Our Fall 2025 enrollment clearly demonstrates the impact that removing barriers and maintaining student momentum has on retention. Continuing students are enrolling at higher levels than ever before.”

Dr. Reber concluded by noting, “HCCC continues to build on its reputation as a nationally recognized leader in student success, using a data-driven, student-centric approach to create programs and initiatives that keep students engaged, supported, and progressing toward their educational and career goals year-round. There is a real sense of energy and excitement on our campuses this fall. Beyond the numbers, these enrollment gains reflect the hard work of our faculty and staff, the determination of our students, and the power of innovative programs that put students first.”