Rising tuition costs and an evolving workforce demand are changing the landscape of postsecondary education for local students. An increasing numbers of students are seeking more affordable options, including community college and dual-credit programs focused on majors marketable to Montgomery County’s dominant industries.

From 2011 to 2015, tuition increased at a rapid rate at several four-year universities frequently attended by Conroe, Montgomery and Willis ISD graduates, including a 22 percent increase per semester at the University of Houston and a 42 percent rise at Sam Houston State University. The college tuition spike seen statewide also led Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to declare limiting tuition growth a priority for Texas Senate education committees during the 2017 legislative session.

“Next session, the Senate will look closely at a number of cost reforms, including performance-based funding, which brings increased accountability and affordability back by requiring education institutions to meet high performance targets before increasing tuition above inflation,” Patrick said at a press conference in April.

While tuition costs have increased by hundreds of dollars per semester at many four-year universities statewide in the past five years, the cost of a 12-credit semester at the Lone Star College System has risen only 7 percent from $704 to $752.

LSCS, the two-year community college system serving the northern Greater Houston area, is the first stop for many high school graduates. About 10,115 students from the Conroe, Montgomery and Willis school districts enrolled in LSCS in spring 2015, according to a study conducted by the college.

Enrollment growth

Amos McDonald, vice chancellor of government and public relations at LSCS, said system enrollment has increased from about 46,000 students in 2005 to more than 82,000 at the end of the 2016 spring semester. [totalpoll id="166912"]

Montgomery County college campuses have experienced growth as well. LSC-Montgomery grew by 9.3 percent over the last five years, while the LSC-Conroe Center—a satellite of the Montgomery campus—grew by 17.7 percent, or 359 students, between the 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years, according to LSCS.

Although part of that growth can be attributed to an overall population boom—Montgomery County has added about 59,000 residents since the 2010 census—McDonald said the economy is also a factor.

“Debt is a critical reason why a lot of students start with us, but you have a ton of students who are transferring from us to four-year colleges,” McDonald said. 

Enrollment at two-year Texas colleges has outpaced enrollment at public four-year universities, growing by 26.5 percent from 2005-14 compared to 24.6 percent for public four-year schools.

However, the rising cost of tuition at SHSU—which has increased by $1,495 per semester since the 2011-12 school year—has not affected enrollment at the college. More than 20,000 students enrolled at the university in fall 2015—the highest enrollment in the school’s history, said Carlos Hernandez, SHSU vice president for finance and operations.

Heather Thielemann, SHSU vice president for enrollment management, said she attributes much of the university’s enrollment growth to demand for programs such as criminal justice, forensic science and nursing, as well as growth of its online education program.

“Over the last five years, we have seen an average of 2 percent growth per year—sometimes it is closer to 3 percent,” Thielemann said.

Evolving workforce demand

As tuition and enrollment have grown, so have the programs offered at higher education institutions to meet workforce demand in and around Montgomery County. Health care, the oil and gas industry and information technology—all science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, fields—are key areas for post college employment, McDonald said.

According to an American Association of Community Colleges report, the number of students graduating from community colleges with degrees in science and engineering has increased nationwide by 120 percent from 2000-12.

Fred Welch, Greater Conroe Economic Development Council executive director, said the Conroe-area workforce has typically supported energy, manufacturing, logistics and support operations. However, additional programs are needed to address an evolving workforce demand in the county.

To address labor market needs, Welch said LSC-Montgomery, SHSU, the GCEDC, the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce and industry leaders as well as Conroe, Montgomery and Willis ISDs have begun collaborating to form a long-term strategy for deployment of the workforce that is going to be required in Montgomery County.

“By partnering with folks outside of our own industries, we understand a little bit more about how they operate and don’t try to implement things that are total mismatches for their operational design,” LSC-Montgomery President Rebecca Riley said.

Welch said demand for business and technical services often found in the city of Houston—such as engineering, research and design consulting, accountants and attorneys—is increasing. However, with the opening of Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital and Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands in 2017, Riley said the health care sector is experiencing the most immediate workforce need.

Riley said LSC-Montgomery has already expanded its health care programs, including the addition of a paramedic program this year. The college also plans to expand existing programs, she said, and is seeking funding options to grow its radiology technician program in the near future.

In addition to the health care industry, the campus also hopes to double the capacity of its welding and machining program at the LSC-Conroe Center by 2017.

Riley said another workforce need is training qualified STEM secondary education instructors for employment at local school districts. LSC-Montgomery has applied for a Texas Affordable Baccalaureate expansion grant, which—if accepted—would make it possible for high school students to enroll in dual-credit courses through the college in the education field.

While stakeholders are still assessing employment needs to develop a long-term plan, Riley said the group plans to develop additional programs based on its findings within a year to address workforce demand.

“I think by the end of another year or so, we will have some really concrete programing in place that will benefit the community,” Riley said.

Reducing educational costs

Local higher education institutions are working together to help offer more affordable postsecondary education options for prospective students.

For example, LSC-Montgomery and SHSU have articulation agreements that ensure students enrolled in certain programs, such as the college’s registered nursing program, can transfer between institutions seamlessly to pursue higher education, Riley said.

“We are increasing the number of pathways for getting a bachelor’s degree right here because if you have to uproot and go someplace else, it is going to cost you more to finish college,” Riley said.

Students also have options to reduce the cost of attending college before graduating high school. Dual-credit programs offer an opportunity for students to earn college credit before graduating from high school.

“It would allow students to take courses toward their education degree in dual-credit while they are still in high school—which means it is tuition-free—and finish their bachelor’s degree within three years of high school graduation instead of four,” Riley said.

Additional reporting by Shawn Arrajj.