Lakeland College reports fall term enrolment increase

Lakeland College is welcoming more students to campus and online studies this fall. In fact, fall term 2024 enrolment is up 12 per cent over the previous fall.

This is the fourth consecutive increase in fall term enrolment at Lakeland.

As of Sept. 27, there were 2,859 full-time and part-time students (headcount) in credit programming at Lakeland. This includes new and returning students. At the same time last year there were 2,552 students (headcount) enrolled.

“We’re very pleased to welcome more students to Lakeland this year. With 91 per cent of our graduates successfully employed, it’s an investment I know will more than pay off for our students,” says Dr. Alice Wainwright-Stewart, president and CEO of Lakeland College. “With extensive industry input, we’ve designed our programs to include immersive experiences like no other, ensuring our students put their education into action. They will graduate with the knowledge and experience needed to thrive in industry.”

With enrolment up throughout the college, Lakeland experienced the most growth overall in the areas of human services, agricultural sciences and apprenticeship programming.

The fall term report provides a snapshot of current student numbers. At end of the 2024-25 academic year, it’s anticipated that Lakeland will serve more than 6,000 credit and non-credit students at its campuses in Vermilion and Lloydminster and through online and blended delivery. With start dates for emergency services, human services, university transfer, business, foundational learning and other program areas throughout the year, as well as additional apprenticeship intakes, more students will join Lakeland throughout this academic year.

This term’s class includes students from throughout Canada, as well as 272 international students from 18 different countries, including Uganda, Iran, Japan, Trinidad and Tobago, Ecuador and Korea. International enrolment grew by 86 students.

“Providing the best possible programming, partnerships and career opportunities for our students means
that we aren’t simply laying the foundation for our students to thrive. We’re creating paths for a more profitable future for our region and province,” says Dr. Wainwright-Stewart.

According to an economic impact study completed in 2020 by Hanover Research, Lakeland adds $130.6 million to the region’s economy each year, of which $2.9 million is from student spending.

Photos: (Top) Rowdy greets students on the first day of school. (Bottom) The Rustlers Women's Hockey Team arrives at the pep rally that kicked off the academic year.