September 5, 2008 Enrollment up at Maine's community colleges Play video

(Amy Sinclair, NECN) - Lectures and long lines at the bookstore mark the start of another school year

Jessica: "oh my gosh dreading it I didn't want summer to end but I love the campus...."

What’s not to love...students at Southern Maine community college can bask in the September sun shine on a white sand beach... they get this million dollar view and a year of college tuition for around 2,400 hundred dollars--that's about 82 bucks per credit.

President: 'the value has really been recognized in this economy."

System wide Maine’s community colleges are looking at an 8 percent increase in enrollment this fall.

Here at SMCC, enrollment is up 12 percent.

Sinclair: "the system's rise to prominence began back in 2003 when the colleges expanded their offerings from technical programs to include liberal arts studies. Enrollment doubled."

Ortiz "in this economy people are trying to save as much as possible you come two years your kids come here for two years that's quite a bit you save.

For students paying their own way like Jessica, coming here was a no brainer.

Jessica: "I just applied to USM and here got into both this was cheaper and it's nice i came here."

Like many SMCC students, Jessica will transfer to a four year college to complete her education, but in this economy, students are also transferring in to avoid crushing debt.

Sam: "my first choice was a school in Florida I did a

Sam will get a 2 -year degree in fire science , .and if he's like most community college grads, he'll put his degree to work here..

Ortiz "generally the history is 95 percent of grads stay in Maine"

That in turn, should help Maine’s economy----.by employing thousands of community college grads, who’ve already aced the test in fiscal responsibility.