Butte College Reaches Pre-Camp-Fire Enrollment Levels for First Time Since 2018

After years of steady recovery, Butte College is projected to reach its pre-Camp-Fire and pre-pandemic enrollment levels during the current (2025–26) academic year—a huge milestone in the college’s rebuilding efforts.

Prior to the November 2018 Camp Fire, Butte College served 10,383 full-time equivalent students (FTES). In the years that followed, enrollment declined sharply, first as a result of the fire, which displaced thousands of residents and students, and later due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The college experienced its lowest enrollment in 2021–22, when FTES fell to 7,320.39, representing a nearly 30 percent decline from its pre-fire peak.

Now, sustained growth is bringing the college back. For the 2025–26 academic year, Butte College is projecting more than 10,300 FTES, the strongest enrollment level the college has seen in nearly eight years.

“This moment represents more than just a number,” said Virginia Guleff, superintendent/president of Butte College. “It reflects the resilience of our students, employees, and communities. Recovering from the Camp Fire and the pandemic required intentional planning, creativity, and a deep commitment to access. Reaching pre-fire enrollment levels shows those efforts are working.”

Enrollment growth at Butte College has been consistent over multiple terms, reflecting the long-term impact of the college’s Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Plan.

Recent gains include:

• Fall 2024: 10% growth over fall 2023
• Spring 2025: 9% growth over spring 2024
• Fall 2025: 7% growth over fall 2024
• Spring 2026: 7–8% projected growth over spring 2025

These increases follow several years of stabilization and targeted rebuilding. In total, the college lost roughly 10 percent of its enrollment immediately after the fire, with additional losses compounding during the pandemic years.

The return to pre-fire enrollment levels comes at a pivotal time. For several years, Butte College benefited from an emergency conditions allowance that held the college harmless at its 2017–18 funding level of 10,383 FTES following the Camp Fire. That protection ends in 2025–26.

Building Enrollment Forward

While overall enrollment has rebounded, the shape of Butte College’s enrollment looks very different from what it did in 2018. Student demand, program mix, and instructional delivery have all evolved, and the college has adapted accordingly.

“This recovery didn’t happen by accident,” said Erik Shearer, assistant superintendent/vice president for instruction. “We made deliberate choices about where to grow, how to schedule classes, and how to better meet students where they are—academically, geographically, and logistically. The result is sustained growth across multiple terms, not a short-term bounce.”

Several programs have experienced significant growth driven by workforce demand and strategic investment. These include agricultural equipment technology, construction management, welding, music, ethnic studies, nursing (RN and LVN), and cosmetology. The college has expanded capacity in these areas to support both regional workforce needs and student interest.

Geographically, enrollment is no longer as concentrated at the main campus as it once was. While the main campus still accounts for approximately 37 percent of total enrollment in 2025–26, the college has seen substantial growth in online education, in-person instruction at the Glenn County Center, and early college programs such as dual enrollment with local high schools.

“We’re delivering education in more ways and more places than ever before,” Shearer said. “By expanding distance education, strategically scheduling at our centers, and growing early college pathways, we’re increasing access while also expanding capacity in high-demand programs.”

The college has also invested in new and planned facilities to support this growth, particularly at satellite locations, while continuing to evaluate how scheduling and modality choices can best serve students balancing work, family, and school.

Continuing to Serve Community Needs

One area where growth has been slower is noncredit instruction. Butte College continues to focus on rebuilding enrollment in noncredit programs that are critical to the community, including short-term vocational training and English as a Second Language (ESL). These programs play a key role in workforce development, reskilling, and supporting adult learners.

“Our recovery isn’t just about returning to where we were,” Guleff said. “It’s about building a stronger, more responsive college that reflects the changing needs of our students and region.”