Prepare yourself for more packed classes and crowded parking lots: Las Positas College has more students than at any time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year saw an influx of new students on campus, and it appears that this trend will continue this year and next, with rising enrollment.
After the pandemic, Las Positas struggled with low enrollment. Over time, numbers climbed slowly, but this summer and fall, more full-time students have been enrolling. The past year marked some of the highest full-time enrollment since the pandemic.
President of Las Positas College Dr. Dyrell Foster said he expects the campus to continue expanding. The state of the campus itself is proof, with new buildings constructed to meet students’ needs. Foster expressed hope that LPC will continue to grow and adapt.
Classes are also filling to the limit. This fall, Las Positas has a fill rate of 91.13%, which measures the percentage of seats taken in courses. That is a 1.91% increase in the fill rate. Last fall was 89.22%. The higher fill rate means it’s more difficult for students to enroll in classes and move off waitlists, so the college will offer additional options during the new winter intersession.
The summer session fill rate also saw an increase. In 2024, the summer fill rate was 86.12%; this year it rose to 90.59% going up 4.47 points. Foster believes that more students have been taking advantage of summer courses to speed the completion of their educational plans and complete additional requirements.
The LPC executive team, including Vice President of Academic Services Nan Ho and President Dyrell Foster, believes enrollment will continue to grow as the college expands services for students. Higher enrollment also brings additional state funding, allowing the college to provide more resources.
To support that growth, the executive team has promoted new classes in multiple formats—in-person, online and hybrid—while also increasing outreach to local high schools and expanding student services.
Despite uncertainty about the future, campus leaders say they hope enrollment continues to rise, allowing LPC to strengthen services and accommodations that help students achieve their goals.
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TOP PHOTO: LPC’s fill rate is over 90 percent. (File Photo by Luke Vavuris/ The Express)
Musa Ashraf is the Arts & Entertainment Editor.
