Barton Community College emerged as one of the leaders in enrollment growth across the state, with an initial increase of 15.9% in students for the fall semester.

Preliminary 20th-day enrollment numbers for the fall state census were released on Oct. 2 by the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR). This early growth establishes Barton in the top five community colleges by head count, with 5,092 students. Barton president Dr. Marcus Garstecki said this growth reflects the college’s ongoing commitment to providing accessible, high-quality education.

“We are thrilled to see this significant rise in enrollment, which highlights the value of the education and opportunities we provide,” he said. “This increase affirms our commitment to student success and community engagement. I want to thank the entire Barton faculty and staff for all the hard work that went into achieving this increase.”

He said this success is partly due to innovation in the classroom and increasing program offerings. The College’s initiatives aim to meet students’ evolving needs in the local service area and beyond.

Barton begins the academic year with the second-highest percent increase over the past year, just behind Seward County Community College. Overall, the state of Kansas saw a preliminary enrollment increase of 4%, while community colleges saw a growth of 5.9% for the fall semester.

For access to additional statewide enrollment data, visit kansasregents.org.