Enrollment in Mississippi’s 15 community and junior colleges is up 8.2 percent.

Eric Clark, executive director of the state’s two-year college board, says preliminary, unaudited numbers show more than 73,200 students enrolled. He expects the figure to remain over 70,000 after auditing. Last year, the system had 67,700 students.

Itawamba Community College had the biggest increase — 15 percent.

Its president, David Cole, says people realize they need more skills and education for jobs like those at the Toyota manufacturing plant planned for the Tupelo area.

Although enrollment is up slightly at Mississippi’s eight public universities, enrollment has dropped at five of those four-year schools.

Average tuition for two-year schools is about $820 a semester, compared to $2,370 a semester at universities.