The College of Southern Maryland recorded its largest fall enrollment in five years, with 5,192 students starting classes this semester, a 7.7 percent increase from fall 2024. The growth marks the third straight year of gains and returns the community college system to pre-pandemic levels for the first time.
Officials attribute the uptick to the college’s “Built for Success” strategic plan, launched in 2024, which prioritizes expanding access to higher education in Southern Maryland. Of the new enrollees, 24 percent entered as first-time undergraduates, signaling successful outreach to untapped groups such as adult learners and K-12 partners. The plan, now in its second year, sets a target of 8,384 credit students by 2029, up from a 2024 baseline of 7,622.
“At CSM we are committed to creating new pathways to success and opportunities for students to build brighter futures,” said CSM President Dr. Yolanda Wilson. “Seeing our enrollment grow is an encouraging sign that students in Southern Maryland are investing in themselves and their futures.”
The enrollment rise aligns with broader patterns. Data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center indicate community colleges nationwide posted the strongest gains of more than 5 percent in the 2024-2025 academic year, outpacing four-year and graduate programs. Spring 2025 figures showed undergraduate enrollment up 3.5 percent overall, with two-year public institutions leading at 5.4 percent growth, driven by younger students seeking vocational paths.
For Southern Maryland, the expansion carries direct economic weight. As the region’s main higher education provider, CSM supplies trained professionals to address workforce shortages in health care, information technology and trades — sectors strained by federal job reductions. Maryland shed 3,200 positions in August 2025 alone, pushing statewide unemployment to 3.6 percent, with Southern Maryland hit hard by 2,500 federal cuts. Governor Wes Moore’s administration responded with $4 million in funding for trade training programs, underscoring the need for local institutions like CSM to bridge gaps.
A 2023 Lightcast economic analysis underscores CSM’s contributions. Students who moved to or remained in Southern Maryland for classes added $6.4 million in income to the local economy during fiscal year 2022-2023. Regional alumni generated more than $223 million in earnings that year. Associate degree holders from CSM earn about $8,700 annually more than high school graduates, boosting tax revenues by nearly $48 million — a 2.6 percent return on the $42 million in public funding the college received. The report also tallies $16 million in state savings from lower health care, judicial and welfare costs tied to higher education outcomes.
“Education is transformation. Every new student represents a future nurse, entrepreneur, or skilled worker who will strengthen the Southern Maryland economy. At CSM we’re proud to play a part in building a stronger, more resilient community,” Wilson said.
Under “Built for Success,” CSM advances three pillars: access, momentum and mobility. Access efforts include targeted recruitment for underserved adults and partnerships with homeschool and public schools, aiming to add 1,762 credit students over five years. Momentum focuses on retention, with goals to raise fall-to-spring return rates to 78 percent by 2029 from 72 percent, through enhanced advising, engagement activities and streamlined scheduling. Faculty training and support services aim to foster belonging, while pathways shorten completion times.
Mobility emphasizes completion and career placement. The plan seeks 38 percent of full-time first-year students earning credentials within three years, up from 32 percent, and 62 percent transferring to four-year schools post-associate degree, exceeding the national 44 percent average. Strategies involve workforce collaborations and advanced STEM programs tailored to regional demands, such as cybersecurity and nursing, where job openings outpace supply amid federal shifts.
CSM’s workforce center delivers non-credit training in business, IT, health and safety, trades, energy and transportation — options flexible for evening or daytime schedules. Scholarships cover sequences in high-demand fields for Maryland residents, including active military. Work-based learning pairs students with employers for hands-on experience, preparing them for roles in Patuxent River naval facilities or Calvert County’s growing health sector.
These initiatives respond to local pressures. Federal workforce cuts since 2024 have displaced thousands in Charles, St. Mary’s and Calvert counties, where base operations drive 20 percent of jobs. CSM’s support for affected workers includes skill upgrades in project management and data analysis, helping transitions to private-sector openings. The college’s three campuses — in La Plata, Leonardtown and Prince Frederick — serve a population of about 400,000, offering affordable credits at $123 per unit for in-county residents.
Historically, CSM enrollment dipped during the pandemic, falling below 5,000 in fall 2020 amid remote learning challenges and economic uncertainty. Recovery began in fall 2023 with a 1.6 percent rise to about 4,980, followed by 2024’s 5,062. The current 5,192 figure surpasses fall 2019’s approximately 5,100, per institutional records, reflecting stabilized hybrid models and renewed community trust.
As Southern Maryland navigates federal dependencies — with agencies like the Navy and NASA employing over 50,000 — CSM’s role extends beyond classrooms. Transfer agreements with University of Maryland system schools ease upward mobility, while dual-enrollment for high schoolers accelerates starts. The Lightcast Report captures this ripple: “CSM enriches the lives of students by raising their lifetime earnings and helping them achieve their individual potential. CSM benefits society as a whole in Maryland by creating a more prosperous economy and generating a variety of savings through the improved lifestyles of students.”
Looking ahead, CSM tracks progress annually, adjusting for enrollment targets and economic shifts. With non-credit enrollment goals at 7,719 by 2029, the college eyes short-term certificates in electric vehicle maintenance and renewable energy, aligning with state incentives for green jobs. These steps not only sustain growth but equip residents for a diversifying economy, where skilled trades could add 10,000 positions by 2030.
The enrollment surge signals resilience in a region balancing military heritage with emerging sectors. For students, it means more sections in high-enrollment programs like registered nursing, which graduates 150 annually to fill 1,200 regional vacancies. Advisors now handle caseloads with data-driven tools, identifying at-risk enrollees early for interventions like tutoring pods at the La Plata campus library.
In Leonardtown, recent facility upgrades include simulation labs for allied health, drawing commuters from across the bay. Prince Frederick’s site hosts evening IT bootcamps, accommodating shift workers from Dominion Energy. Such adaptations ensure the college meets learners where they are, from recent graduates eyeing four-year paths to mid-career professionals reskilling amid layoffs.
This fall’s momentum builds on fiscal year 2024’s 14,971 total learners, a 4.5 percent jump. As “Built for Success” unfolds, CSM positions itself as a linchpin for workforce stability, turning individual advancements into collective gains for Southern Maryland’s 300,000-plus households.
