By Preston Goehring, Marketing Coordinator, WNCC
SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. - Western Nebraska Community College has seen a 13.4 percent increase in its total enrollment for the Spring 2026 semester, reflecting continued institutional momentum and student demand across multiple program areas.
The Spring 2026 census report, presented at the March Board of Governors meeting, shows total enrollment at 1,676 students — a 13.4 percent increase from Spring 2025. The number of full-time students rose by 7.1 percent, while part-time enrollment rose by 17.2 percent.
One of the largest contributors to the increase, is WNCC's retention rate. More than 74 percent of students who attended Fall 2025 classes returned for the Spring 2026 semester.
“This spring enrollment increase reflects the collective commitment, hard work, and dedication of our entire college community,” WNCC President Greg Dart said. “We’re encouraged by this continued momentum and look forward to building on this growth in the semesters ahead. It's a great time to be a Cougar.”
WNCC's CollegeNOW! program once again showed strong numbers, with 749 total students utilizing the free tuition that was offered to area high schools. Dual-credit students account for 44.7 percent of all WNCC students.
"We're happy to see that so many Panhandle students are taking advantage of the opportunity to get a head start on their education," Dart said.
WNCC’s student body includes learners from all 13 counties in its service area. According to the report, 25.2 percent of students identify as Hispanic. The college also saw an 23.5 percent increase in online FTE (full-time equivalence) and continues to attract students from beyond the region, including 85 students from outside Nebraska and 75 international students.