Enrollment in California’s community colleges is at its lowest in 30 years, after an 18 percent drop from pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
The state’s 115 community colleges have lost about 340,000 students over the past three years, according to enrollment data released by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.
Both the Los Angeles and San Diego community college districts saw a 25 percent enrollment drop since Spring 2019, according to the Chancellor’s Office.
Meanwhile, enrollment in the North Orange County Community College District dropped by 28 percent over the same period, and the South Orange County district fell by 18 percent.
Officials at Chancellor’s Office said the COVID-19 pandemic hit community colleges “especially hard,” with enrollment declining at a higher rate than at four-year institutions….