CSN Enrollment Spikes this Semester
After several years of flat enrollment, the College of Southern Nevada celebrates an enrollment increase that shows promising trends for future growth.
CSN fall enrollment spiked by five percent from fall 2024 to fall 2025 comparison. The College headcount shows pre-pandemic numbers marking approximately 30,000 credit-based students and close to 10,000 for non-credit or workforce-based students.
Growth in the health science majors saw an 11 percent increase with stem-related majors showing an 8 percent increase. Full-time students and first time in college students increased by 10 percent.
With a diverse student population at CSN, data also shows that traditional aged students (18-24 year olds) increased by 7 percent, Hispanic student enrollment increased by 6 percent, black students increased 5 percent, and the number of men enrolling increased by 7 percent.
As CSN meets the needs of the communities in Southern Nevada, the college continues to make strides to support the diverse student population. One area of note following student feedback was to offer more in-person classes. This fall, CSN made a concerted effort to provide at least 50% of classes in most programs with in-person options.
College officials used data to address the growing need from students for in-person instruction. National trends indicate that many colleges and universities saw a resurgence of in-person needs as part of ongoing efforts to improve student persistence trends, enhance student support services, and increase completion rates.
Many new degree programs contributed to the increased enrollment as more options for students mean more options for the greater workforce in each community. While the college offers numerous academic programs for certificate and degree programs, the workforce and economic development area is just as important for the overall economic landscape of Nevada.
Recently, CSN opened its Westside Education and Training Center (WETC) in the historic Westside area offering non-credit courses with plans to provide general education classes as early as Spring 2026.
President Stacy Klippenstein attributes the increases to a number of strategic enrollment initiatives. The wraparound services from student affairs and academic affairs contributed to the ongoing motivation for students to continue their pursuit of certificates and college degrees. Retention and services supporting student success earned yet another resounding accolade at CSN. Over the past year, the college awarded 5, 647 degrees and certificates to students – the most ever recorded in a single academic year!
Over the past year, new academic programs like Funeral Services, existing student programs like Handshake connecting students to employers, championship wins for the Coyote Athletics teams, and new support initiatives like the Paw Pass made education and the college experience accessible, engaging, affordable, and targeted for student success.
Additionally, CSN established new partnerships with industry leaders and renewed existing pipelines to workforce development opportunities across Southern Nevada. These relationships enhance and give critical input for credentials sorely needed in this area.
As the college prepares for the next Strategic Planning process, student data will inform and bring focus to the numerous ways in which CSN looks forward to the next five years. To carry that momentum forward, the Institutional Research Office recently unveiled the data dashboards that allow quick snapshots of metrics and interactive information.
The College of Southern Nevada proudly celebrates the enrollment increases as a reflection of the value CSN brings to the communities and the education we provide that connects people with jobs and change lives across our region.
“Our work is only beginning. Our faculty and staff bring tremendous value to our students but more importantly our students are the reason we exist,” said Klippenstein. “Every enrollment increase and student completion brings new opportunities for CSN to engage with our communities and show off the amazing contributions our students have to our region.”