STEUBENVILLE — Eastern Gateway Community College Tuesday announced its largest enrollment for a fall semester of the college, with a total of 41,843 students on campus and online.

This number includes 23 percent more Ohio students, with nearly half of those students from within the college’s four-county service district.

“With more than five years of experience in online college education, Eastern Gateway Community College was able to maintain and grow the services we offer students, create jobs in Steubenville and Youngstown and offset $163 million in potential student debt,” said President Michael Geoghegan. “We believe that our focus on preparing students for the 21st century workforce, and finding new ways to make college degrees and certifications accessible and affordable, will set a new standard for all colleges and universities.”

In addition to enrolling more students, the school is increasing the success rates of its students based on several key indicators:

¯ 68.2 percent of students progressed from the spring to fall semester.

¯ 83.9 percent of students successfully completed their courses in the summer semester.

By incorporating Open Educational Resources, made available through a program at California State University, more than 200 courses have zero-cost textbooks and saved students nearly $12 million in 2019-2020.

“We are proud that we can offer students skills and education that translates into viable careers in in-demand industries. We are also transferring students to pursue bachelor’s degrees with a strong foundation and lower debt,” said John Crooks, senior vice president of academic affairs at Eastern Gateway Community College. “The success of our students is the true marker of our success as an institution.”

Affordability and access to online courses were the driving forces in enrollment numbers. The COVID-19 epidemic has displaced many students, while others looked for more affordable, online options. Eastern Gateway Community College offers more than 40 fully-online degree programs. Additionally, it’s innovative student funding model allowed the college to offer tuition-free courses to anyone in Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana or Jefferson counties for the fall semester. It continues to grow its “last-dollar scholarship” program that allows labor union members and their families access to free online degrees.

To support this growth, the school has created more than 100 jobs in Steubenville and Youngstown.

“We believe that Eastern Gateway Community College’s obligation is to deliver programs that respond to the economic needs of industry and individuals. A college degree or certificate should be a ticket to economic advancement and increased prosperity, not a financial burden that takes years to pay off,” said Geoghegan. “Our model puts education within reach of anyone, and we meet people where they are. This is higher education as it should be.”