OSU-OKC Enrollment Numbers at Record High

OKLAHOMA CITY -- In this tough economy, more Oklahomans are choosing to invest in their future. Some are enrolling in college for the first time and others are going back. At OSU-OKC enrollment is at a record high.

As of the second day of school it's unlike anything anyone has seen here before. Enrollment is up and reportedly the economy is the main reason for the growth.

It's an exciting, but emotional day for Katherine Cohee. After 30 years she's going back to college.

"I have to do something with my life," Cohee said. "I cook, I sell food. I'm a pastry chef, but I want to do more. I want to own my own business."

She plans to get a degree in business technology. She admits the economy is one of the main reasons for her renewed focus on education.

"You don't know what tomorrow is going to bring, and if you don't have some type of education it's really hard to succeed out here, very hard," Cohee said.

Cohee is not alone. At OSU-OKC the growth has been a bit surprising. More than 100 new classes have had to be added and more teachers hired.

"Their parents have been laid off, their friends have been laid off and all that anxiety is driving enrollment to degrees where people could get the education and very quickly and turn around into a job," OSU-OKC Communications Director Evelyn Bollenbach said.

Amanda Armstrong and Scott Sawyer spend their days working at the university, but they're also students. They both enrolled in college after determining their previous jobs had no future.

"Even in retail it says you can't be a manager without a bachelor's degree, so that was kind of a wake up call to me," Sawyer said.

"With the economy the way it is now I've got no chance; I have to have an education to move forward," Armstrong said.

As for Cohee, she says she's determined to show her grandchildren it's never too late to learn.

"I'm going to do this," Cohee said. "I'm going to succeed at this."

Even though classes have already started, you can still get into school at OSU-OKC. Enrollment continues through the end of the week.

The University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond is also reporting a record enrollment. A little over 16,000 students now attend classes at UCO.