While high-school graduates and non-traditional students are certainly turning to trades and the workforce, rather than a traditional four-year institution, many are returning to the classroom in other ways — and especially to Hopkinsville Community College.
During Monday afternoon’s Board of Director’s meeting, HCC Vice President of Student Affairs Angel Prescott noted that, as of November 3, 2025 fall enrollment was up 4.9% over 2024 fall enrollment.
And since the fall of 2022, she said the fall enrollment growth rate was 14.4% — a clear post-COVID rebound from pandemic shock.
According to the National Student Clearinghouse, the community-college sector has been the fastest-recovering sector of higher education since the 2022-23 academic year, and in many national reports is showing clear growth, especially in workforce/technical programs and dual-enrollment.
Prescott said this is holding true in Hopkinsville, but heeded some caution heading into Spring 2026.
In order to offset any potential slowing, Prescott noted that pop-up recruitment has been occurring in Oak Grove, Trigg County, Todd County and Clarksville, particularly with after-hours and Saturday registration events.
They are even resorting to some “old-school” methods.
A new marketing campaign called “Your Path, Your Way” is also in the works, she said, which will further clarify how HCC can meet students where they are.
One major storyline on the horizon, she affirmed, is next year’s consolidation of Christian County and Hopkinsville high schools. She and the staff have been preparing for such over the last two years, and they know an increase of HCC’s involvement with Christian County Public Schools next fall seems more than plausible.
New HCC class offerings and technical pathways, she closed, “could be on the way.”
In other HCC news:
+ Dr. Alissa Young, HCC’s sixth President & CEO, said a pair of recent grant awards will go a long way to helping students. One from the Kroger Foundation was for $2,500 and will assist with items needed for the campus food pantry, while one from the Gene Haas Foundation for $8,000 will push computerized manufacturing and machining students toward some new experiences.
+ Dr. Young also noted that, quietly, the HCC Foundation recently assisted several active-duty military personnel from Fort Campbell continue their educations through the October semester payment deadlines. The recent 41-day government shutdown, she said, froze some from paying on time, and this measure allowed for uninterrupted training and learning.
+ One major repair and renovation, she added, also diligently continues, and that’s the blue academic building. A soft deadline for its completion is Spring 2026.
FULL AUDIO:
