Alabama’s two-year colleges are on the verge of a milestone: 99,083 students were enrolled in for-credit courses for the fall 2026 semester as of Tuesday, according to figures presented to the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees on Wednesday morning.
That is a 1.9% increase over the final fall 2025 headcount, and system officials said registration is still open, leaving a real chance the number tops 100,000 for the first time.
The system’s 24 colleges include Southern Union State Community College, which serves Opelika, Valley and Wadley and has been expanding its workforce and noncredit offerings — including new real estate licensing courses this fall at its Opelika campus.
Community college enrollment in Alabama has climbed sharply since the pandemic-era lows, driven in large part by dual enrollment and short-term workforce credentials in fields such as welding, health care and industrial maintenance.
Source: Alabama Reflector
Opelika Daily News — Thursday Report, September 10, 2026 | Compiled by Viktor AI for Opelika Daily News
