By Eric Weddle, Journal & Courier

eweddle@jconline.com

Crowded hallways, few parking spots and hundreds of new faces were no surprise Monday to Whitney Koekenberg.

The early childhood education major knew exactly why so many were piling into Ivy Tech Community College in Lafayette for the first day of spring classes.

"I can take three classes here for the cost of two at Purdue," she said about Ivy Tech's full-time tuition cost of $2,989. Purdue's current cost is $8,638. "With all of the problems going on in the economy, there are going to be more students because it is cheaper. You can graduate without the debt."

Monday afternoon Ivy Tech officials were still tabulating enrollment at Region 4, which includes programs in Lafayette campus, Crawfordsville and a Monticello branch. But they said they expect a record for the final headcount and full-time student enrollment within the next two weeks.

Copyright © 2024 www.jconline.com