Fall 2002 Enrollment Analysis
(As of
Census)
Miramar College Summary
As of census, 8,890 students were enrolled at Miramar College. This was a notable 18% increase (+1,332) over the previous fall 2001 semester. Total FTES also increased from the previous year at an identical rate of 18% (2,622 in fall 2002 vs. 2,214 in fall 2001). In addition, there was a 23% increase in the number of students enrolled full-time (2,161 in fall 2002 vs. 1,755 in fall 2001).
Further examination of the student population showed that 63% were continuing students, 24% were new to the college (first-time freshmen, 11%; first-time transfer, 13%), 12% were students who left the college for more than a year and returned, 1% were current high school students, and less than 1% were unknown. Compared to the previous year, these percentage distributions remained unchanged with the exception of a small (2%) increase of continuing students.
New student enrollment by college service area[1] was also examined in order to identify any shifts in the enrollment pattern across service areas. The results showed a notable increase in the number of first-time freshmen and transfers from outside of the college’s service area, especially from the areas outside of the district. More importantly, however, there was a significant decrease in the number of first-time freshmen from within the college’s own service area. This may be the result of fewer students graduating from the college’s feeder high schools[2] or more local high school graduates opting to attend colleges outside of the district.
Enrollment changes across various demographic variables were also analyzed. The results showed a small increase (not more than 1 percent point) in the proportion of students who were married, between the ages of 25 and 29, intending to transfer without an associate degree, or had two dependents. Otherwise, there were no significant demographic changes.
Analysis of fall-to-fall persistence among first-time freshmen was also conducted. Of the first-time freshmen enrolled at Miramar College in fall 2001, nearly one-half (48%) persisted to the current semester (fall 2002). This rate did not change from the previous year (fall 2001).
Persistence rates were also broken down by educational objective. More than half of the first-time freshmen (56%) with the goal of transferring persisted to the current semester. However, the rates were lower for those whose educational goal was to obtain a certificate (50%), undecided (48%), obtain an associate degree (40%), or other educational objectives (37%).
Finally, enrollment changes by subject area were analyzed. Only subject areas with 100 or more enrollments were included in the analysis. The top ten subject areas with the largest change in student enrollment from fall 2001 to fall 2002 were: (1) administration of justice, (2) fine arts, (3) sociology, (4) legal assistant, (5) chemistry, (6) automotive technology, (7) anthropology, (8) biological sciences, (9) health education, and (10) history.
In summary, analysis of the fall 2002 enrollment (as of census) at Miramar College showed a significant 18% increase in student enrollment from the previous fall semester (fall 2001). Furthermore, the data showed slight increases in the number of students who were older (age 25-29), married, with two dependents, and intending to transfer without an associate degree. With regard to fall-to-fall persistence, 48% of the fall 2001 first-time freshmen returned in fall 2002. This rate was identical to the fall 2000 to fall 2001 persistence rate.
Note: Supporting data available upon request.