Spring enrollment at the Minnesota Colleges and Universities system is up 8 percent, an increase of more than 14,000 students over a year ago.
Most of the increase is taking place at MnSCU's 25 two-year colleges, which saw an average increase of more than 10 percent.
MnSCU spokeswoman Melinda Voss says that's because community and technical colleges offer programs that are popular in a tough economy.
"It's the two year colleges that have the short-term programs, programs that can be completed in a year or less, as well as two-year degree programs which are particularly attractive for retraining displaced workers," said Voss.
Nearly 200,000 students are taking credits in the MnSCU system.