Groves isn’t referring to the soaring, summer heat but to the soaring trend in higher education. Community colleges are now considered the smart option.

That’s the finding nationwide, according to David Hawkins, public policy director at the National Association for College Admissions Counseling.

The Charlotte Observer supported those findings in its May 6 report on a nationwide trend showing community colleges are becoming a popular, cheaper route from the four-year path.

The nationwide findings reflect what is found across North Carolina where the May 7 editorial of The Daily Record of Dunn calls the state’s 58 community colleges “a smart option.”

Chancy Kapp of the NC Community College System in Raleigh said the rate of student growth in this state’s community colleges has increased by more than 26.5 percent in the past five years.

"We’re experiencing that surge here at SCC,” said Groves where summer enrollment figures are up 22 % over last year.

"Also, we are way ahead for students who have already pre-registered for fall semester.”

Groves attributes the surge to many factors, one of which is the value of a dollar.

"Not only do gas prices soak up so much of our paycheck so does the ripple effect,” Groves said. “Produce and consumer goods also cost more because of transportation costs. Seems like the only thing not increasing is people’s paycheck. So we have to make smart choices to get the most for our money.”

Students attending the state-supported colleges in North Carolina can expect to pay approximately $2,300 for tuition only per semester, or $4,600 annually. At SCC tuition is just $665 a semester, or $1330 annually.

Of course, if the student goes off to college those fees increase to around $13,000 per year for the state-supported colleges or around $24,000 per year for the private colleges.

"We’re finding more and more students taking our college transfer degree program,” said Groves. “That segment of the population has substantially increased our numbers. Students- and many of their parents- tell us it’s a ‘no-brainer’ to get the first two years of college at a substantial savings and then transfer seamlessly to Western, NC State, Chapel Hill or any other UNC system school.”

For high school or home-schooled students it gets even better. These students can dual enroll at SCC and take college transfer courses tuition free. According to Linda Dyke, SCC concurrent enrollment director, some students even graduate from high school and college at the same time. “They saved two years worth of tuition- thousands of dollars,” Dyke said.

Groves said the New Macon Campus, opening in July, will not only be an economic advantage to Macon County but to its individual citizens who can now pocket the gas money they would spend driving over Cowee Mountain.

Taking online classes saves in gas prices, too, Groves said, noting SCC now offers 10 online degree programs, including a full array of college transfer courses.

"I would suggest that students who have not already done so apply now for fall, especially since many of the classes have limited enrollment,” Groves said. Students can apply online at www.southwesterncc.edu.

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