Hudson County Community College (HCCC) announced a 7.9 percent increase in student enrollment for the Fall 2025 semester, with a total of 8,211 students. This is the highest number of students the college has enrolled since Fall 2019 and represents a full return to its pre-pandemic enrollment level.
The college also reported 7,013 full-time-equivalent (FTE) students and 84,157 registered credits, an overall 5 percent year-over-year increase. Continuing students totaled 5,344, representing a 10.8 percent increase from Fall 2024, while continuing full-time enrollment rose 10.4 percent. The number of new students increased to 2,887, up 2.9 percent from the previous year.
- Hudson County Community College reached 8,211 students in Fall 2025, a 7.9% increase, its highest enrollment since 2019.
- The Hudson Scholars and Early College programs have helped improve student outcomes and close long-standing equity gaps.
- Expanded support for adult learners and summer enrollment programs has strengthened student persistence and re-enrollment.
Growth During National Enrollment Declines
While many institutions across the United States are dealing with declining student numbers due to population changes and affordability concerns, HCCC has maintained consistent growth. The college’s commitment to engagement and student-centered planning has resulted in steady improvement in both enrollment and retention.
On September 9, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members gathered at the Gabert Library for the college’s 50th Anniversary Kickoff Event, celebrating HCCC’s continued expansion and its service to Hudson County.
President Dr. Christopher Reber stated that the increase demonstrates how ongoing support helps students continue their studies throughout the year. Associate Vice President for Institutional Research John Urgola credited data-based strategies for improving student outcomes and guiding the college’s academic planning.
Summer Enrollment Initiative Helps Students Stay on Track
One of the college’s most successful efforts has been its Summer Enrollment Initiative, which encourages students to stay engaged in coursework between semesters. During Summer 2025, more than 3,500 students enrolled in the first summer session, exceeding the previous record by over 650 students and showing a 45 percent increase from the prior year.
Institutional research found that students who took summer classes were twice as likely to register for the fall semester compared to those who did not. According to Dean of Enrollment Services Matthew Fessler, the higher participation shows how removing barriers and maintaining academic progress can improve long-term student success.
Hudson Scholars Program Improves Completion and Equity
The college’s partnership with Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national nonprofit organization focused on community college success, continues to shape student progress through the Hudson Scholars Program. The program offers proactive advising, mentoring, financial stipends, and early academic intervention to help students complete their degrees and stay enrolled.
Since starting in 2021, Hudson Scholars has supported over 5,000 students, nearly doubled the three-year completion rate, and become financially self-sustaining. The college’s two-year completion rate has risen from “nearly zero” to 12 percent, while equity gaps for underrepresented students have narrowed by up to 70 percent.
The program has contributed to five consecutive record graduating classes and earned national honors, including:
- The 2024 National Bellwether Legacy Award
- The 2023 National Bellwether Award for Instructional Programs and Services
- The 2021–22 Innovation of the Year Award from the League for Innovation in the Community College
Early College Program Expands Access for High School Students
HCCC continues to help local students begin their college education early through its Early College Program. The initiative allows high school students to take up to 18 college-level credits per academic year, giving them a head start on earning a degree and saving on tuition.
In Fall 2025, the program enrolled 1,051 students, a 19.3 percent increase from Fall 2024. Over 1,100 students participated during the previous academic year, and 48 high school students completed their associate degrees at HCCC’s May 2025 Commencement before graduating from high school.
The program has grown each year since 2022 and now works with schools across Hudson County, as well as in Newark, West Orange, Irvington, and Cranford, widening access to higher education for students across northern New Jersey.
New Opportunities for Adult Learners and Returning Students
HCCC has also expanded its efforts to re-engage adult learners and students returning to higher education. Through participation in the Jobs for the Future/Achieving The Dream Improving Economic Mobility for Adult Learners Initiative, the college piloted the Hudson Scholars model with 400 returning adult students.
The pilot achieved a Spring-to-Fall retention rate increase from 50 percent in 2023 to 58.5 percent in 2024, leading to plans for broader expansion. The college also updated its Credit for Prior Learning policies to help students earn credit for previous experience, reducing time and cost toward degree completion.
In partnership with the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) and ReUp Education, HCCC has reconnected with 579 returning students and added 183 newly re-enrolled students. A digital marketing campaign is also underway to reach local residents with “Some College, No Degree,” encouraging them to return and complete their studies.
