PETOSKEY -- North Central Michigan College in Petoskey is seeing another record semester with an 8% jump in student enrollment.

The total student county for the winter 2009 semester is 3,133 students; that's 232 students more than last year.

"We've been able to add a few sections, fill the classes a little fuller but overall we have been able to accommodate all of the students coming through," said Charles MacInnis, NCMC marketing director.

While numbers are up, the data also shows that education is not just for the young. According to numbers released by NCMC the average age of a student is 32 years old, all of which is attributed to the sluggish economy.

"We've seen people coming in here because they've been laid off from jobs or they concluded that they need a college education because of the tough economy or because they concluded the cost of a higher four year college is more than what they can afford right now," MacInnis said.

Students receiving Michigan Works tuition assistance grew 226% from last year going from 87 students from the winter semester of 2008 to 197 students in the current semester.

"We had quite a few people that not too long ago were in fulltime gainful employment but found themselves unemployed but with benefits so they could go back to school," MacInnis said. "We want them to be successful, it's tough for them, but we hope we're providing that lifeline they need to be successful in the future.

Enrollment is not only jumping in the classroom. NCMC has seen a significant jump in online course enrollment, which MacInnis says gives students the ability to complete courses, but on their own schedule.

As for the growing trend of more students enrolling in the community college, MacInnis says it has had little impact on the learn environment, but positive impacts if any.

"We're holding our own, we offer classes day and evening and we've been able to fill those classes a little more, we've hired some additional adjunct instructors and put out a few additional sections but we've been able to handle the influx just fine," MacInnis said.

Total credit hour enrollment grew 12% with enrollment increases seen at off-campus sites as well in Gaylord, East Jordan and Cheboygan.