Virginia college degree goal requires more enrollment

A new report says the state's goal for awarding additional degrees will require Virginia colleges to boost in-state enrollment by about 42,000 students over the next seven years.

The 2011 Top Jobs Act calls for public institutions to award an additional 100,000 associate and baccalaureate degrees by 2025.

The report by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia estimates private institutions need to award at least 15,000 additional degrees to meet the law's call for a "comparable increase".

According to the report, schools will face challenges in meeting the enrollment target. They include a decline in the number of Virginia high school graduates.


The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that the council heard a presentation on the report Tuesday.