Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC), a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, is pleased to announce its total enrollment has increased four percent since Fall of 2015.  The college’s current enrollment is 4,088 students.            

“Our students realize that an opportunity to develop their skills at a technical college will produce a significant return on their investment,” said Dr. Jabari Simama, President, Georgia Piedmont Technical College.  “The uptick in our enrollment speaks to the high-quality programs we offer.  The economic disparity between college graduates and those individuals who only earn a high school diploma has never been greater. In this economy, some form of postsecondary education is essential for individuals who want to enter the middle class,” he stated.  “I’m certain our incremental increase in enrollment this Fall is part of a larger trajectory that will carry us into next semester and beyond,” concluded Dr. Simama.   

According to a report published in May of this year by CNN Money, enrollment peaked in 2010 at American colleges but attendance has declined every year since then.  Community colleges and for-profit universities have experienced the largest declines in enrollment, according to the report.  Georgia Piedmont is bucking that trend by ramping up its recruitment and communications strategies, and by hosting open houses that showcase its exceptional programs to potential students.        

“Enrollment is up on all three of our campuses,” said Dr. Ivan L. Harrell II, Executive Vice President, Academic and Student Affairs.   “This increase is truly a college-wide effort.  We’ve improved our admissions processes as well as our marketing initiatives.  The college is continuing to refine its programs so they are tailored to fit the communities we serve,” he added.  “We’re energized by the larger enrollments at Georgia Piedmont, having witnessed a two percent increase this past summer and a four percent increase this Fall,” Dr. Harrell concluded 

With 88 nationalities represented and over 100 languages spoken, Georgia Piedmont’s student body is diverse.  The average age of GPTC students is 31 years, with 42 percent of students reporting they are the first member of their family to pursue a postsecondary credential.