Blinn College’s enrollment up 4.9 percent from fall 2013

BRYAN and BRENHAM – For the fall 2014 semester, Blinn had 19,317 students enrolled, according to numbers released by the college. Enrollment is up 4.9 percent from fall 2013 and 37.5 percent from 2006.

The college also notes two-year college enrollment is down slightly statewide according to the Texas Association of Community Colleges.

While Brenham is the home campus of the Blinn system, Bryan has the biggest enrollment with 13,587 students, up 816 students — or 6.4 percent — from a year earlier.

This comes as Blinn searches for a solution to its space issues, as its student population outgrows the space at the corner of 29th St. and Villa Maria. Options for expanded space in Brazos County are being explored.

Projections from the BOKA Powell design and planning firm show Blinn-Bryan at more than 15,000 students by 2017, and then near 20,000 by 2025.

Online courses’ popularity also rose. The Distance Learning Program saw a 24.3 percent increase in the past year, with 1,267 students enrolled.

Brenham’s campus saw a 4.1 percent decline in enrollment to 2,455 students. Schulenberg’s and Sealy’s much smaller campuses — 187 and 133 students, respectively — were also down.