Enrollment mixed across Coastal Bend

COASTAL BEND – The area’s two universities reported hundreds of additional enrollees this fall while Del Mar College’s student figure fell by a little more than 1,000 compared with fall 2011.

Del Mar’s enrollment decline — from 12,071 in fall 2011 to 11,022 in fall 2012 — was attributed to prospective students choosing to work in areas such as the Eagle Ford Shale exploration and essentially putting off school, according to Provost Fernando Figueroa.

Coastal Bend College in Beeville reported a 3.4 percent drop in enrollment from 3,649 in fall 2011 to 3,526 in fall 2012.

The Texas Association of Community Colleges reported an overall 2.6 percent decrease in enrollment at the 32 community colleges which reported unofficial fall enrollment totals to the association.

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi officials reported 348 more students than the 10,162 enrollees in fall 2011. The university had its largest freshman class — 1,763 — in fall 2012.

Seventy-nine are enrolled in the university’s growing mechanical engineering program of 231 students, according to Flavius Killebrew, the university’s president.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville officials reported an increase of 525 students from the 6,707 enrolled in fall 2011. The university has risen from 5,698 students in fall 2008 to 7,232 in fall 2012.

The university also plans to break ground next week on a dorm and chapel in a partnership with the Diocese of Corpus Christi.