U. Alabama: Enrollment grows for Alabama community colleges.

(From University Wire)

Byline: Carrie Stewart

Some students dream about growing up and going away to college, but in Alabama many more students are at least making a stop in the state's two-year college system.

According to Alabama College System student headcounts, the state's two-year schools swelled from 99,711 students in fall 2003 to 103,441 students in fall 2004.

"It doesn't take four years for [Alabama high school graduates] to go into the job market, and a lot of them choose that route," said Ethel Hall, vice president emerita of the Alabama Department of Education.

Hall said the benefits of attending a two-year school are more suited to some students who might not meet the admission requirements of a four-year school. They might first go to a community college to raise their grade point average.

Hall said because many students need to earn income and get an education at the same time, they may choose night school at a junior college or a technical school near home to learn job skills.