Williston State College is reporting record enrollment for its fall semester.
The college has 1,124 registered students. That’s a 2.4 percent increase in headcount over the fall of 2017.
College president Dr. John Miller said one reason is scholarships offered by the WSC Foundation, both for tuition and residence hall costs.
"We also did a rate adjustment downward in our double-room rates to be more competitive with the apartment market in Williston," Miller said. "From a financial standpoint, it's really almost a no-brainer. I mean, free tuition and fees for four semesters -- that's pretty hard to pass that up."
Miller said the college has also been active in marketing and recruiting in the region it serves, in northwestern North Dakota and northeastern Montana. He said he’s also pleased with student retention rates.
"The rate is around 58 to 60 percent," Miller said. "And between the fall of freshman year to the spring freshman year, that rate is closer to 65 percent."
Miller said WSC still loses students to jobs in the oil patch – and that’s just a part of life in the Williston Basin. He said some of the more popular programs on campus are nursing, welding and diesel technology.