LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) has announced an enrollment increase of 4.5% over the course of the last fiscal year, continuing a nationwide trend of higher education institutions rebounding from enrollment declines caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
National higher education enrollment rates have increased by 4.5% from fall 2023 to fall 2024, and for the first time, those rates have passed pre-pandemic averages, with the current national average being 0.4% higher than the 2019 average. Community colleges have received a particularly large post-pandemic boost, with enrollment rates up 6.3% since fall 2023.
This adds up to 14,971 students enrolled at CSM in both credit and noncredit programs.
This year also marks the second year running that CSM has been able to retain flat tuition rates, which is notable because declining enrollment had forced the college to raise tuition in 11 out of the last 14 academic years.
According to a study conducted by the Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC) from 2018-2019 and published in 2021, the community colleges of Maryland accounted for $8.7 billion in added income, which is equivalent to 113,805 jobs. Further, because many Maryland community college students are encouraged to remain in the state after graduation as part of the “live, train, and remain” policy of institutions like CSM, the state sees an additional $294 million boost to its economy through the daily spending of those graduates.
Maryland’s community college system is consistently ranked among the best in the country, and according to at least one study, CSM ranks within the top 60 on a list of 650 other community colleges.
The success of CSM is in part driven by a handful of innovative programs the college has created, with recent standout examples being its cybersecurity program and its vertical agriculture course.
CSM’s cybersecurity program is designated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Security Agency (NSA) as a center for academic excellence and ranks in the top 10 of the 34 cybersecurity associate degree programs offered nationwide. Since 2013, enrollment in the program has more than doubled, from 124 students in 2013 to 268 in 2023. As a result of the increased enrollment and high career potential for students in a field projected to grow by 35% between 2021 and 2031, CSM has invested significantly in its cybersecurity program, initially creating two “cyber-labs” in 2024, and will open a new cybersecurity center at its Leonardtown campus this May. For readers interested in attending the ribbon-cutting opening ceremony of the new cybersecurity center, it will take place on May 14 at CSM’s Leonardtown campus.
Speaking to the commissioners of St. Mary’s County in a “State of the College” briefing, CSM President Yolanda Wilson said, “CSM is committed to offering cutting-edge training in this high-demand field,” and that as part of Maryland’s larger Accelerating Cyber Careers program, CSM “will develop and staff state-of-the-art cyber-ranges, train community college faculty, update infrastructure, and student educational materials.”
The success of the new cyber center will also be based on the support provided by the Patuxent Partnership, which has provided $400,000 in funding for STEM scholarships, cybersecurity initiatives, and STEM programming.
Another interesting example of CSM’s innovative programming can be found in its vertical agriculture course. Vertical agriculture can produce 10 to 20 times more vegetables than traditional farming methods, the plants it supports don’t need soil to grow, and the system uses 95% less water than traditional agricultural methods due to its water recycling system.
This was made possible by a $490,000 grant from the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland that was used to purchase a 10-rack agricultural system from Karma Verde Fresh in Mexico, which is the foundation for the course. The grant also covers the full cost of tuition for the course for students.
Jordan Jones-Cordero, the vertical agricultural course instructor, said, “This is so new, the possibilities are endless. You can do this as a hobby or a job. It just depends on what you want to do.”
In the briefing at the County Commissioners meeting, President Wilson took a similar tone, noting that “For someone who doesn’t have the landmass, or someone who lives in the city or has an apartment, you can have that…you can do that in your home.”
Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com
