The Gazebo Gazette
PRCC CAMPUS (GG) — Pearl River Community College is celebrating another historic enrollment milestone, welcoming 7,142 students to the Wildcat Family for fall 2026. According to a preliminary headcount report released last week by the Mississippi Community College Board, PRCC’s headcount increased 13.2% from fall 2025 to fall 2026.
Additionally, PRCC saw a 6% increase in credit hours, reaching 91,360 during the same timeframe. These upward trends place PRCC at No. 1 among Mississippi’s 15 community colleges in percentage growth in both headcount and credit hours.
PRCC has grown from an enrollment of 4,882 students in fall 2016 to 7,142 in fall 2026, reflecting a remarkable 46.3% increase over the past decade.
While the data is impressive, it represents much more than enrollment numbers. It represents thousands of students who choose Pearl River Community College as the place to learn, grow, build relationships, pursue their dreams, and begin living their legacies.
“This historic enrollment growth is the result of a clear vision and a focused effort to meet Mississippi’s need for a highly skilled workforce,” said PRCC President and Mississippi Gulf Coast native Dr. Adam Breerwood. “Our Board of Trustees, faculty and staff have worked together to move Pearl River forward.”
“Each of these students has trusted Pearl River with an important part of their future,” Breerwood said. “We work every day to make education accessible, affordable and efficient. Whether a student plans to transfer to one of Mississippi’s outstanding universities or enter the workforce, our responsibility is to provide a clear pathway to success.”
PRCC’s 7,142 headcount and 91,360 credit hours rank fourth among Mississippi’s community colleges.
“We are proud to lead the state in enrollment and credit-hour growth, but there is much more work ahead,” Breerwood said. “Pearl River remains committed to its comprehensive mission of serving students, strengthening communities and helping build Mississippi’s economy.”
For more than a decade, PRCC has continued to build momentum by expanding opportunities and strengthening its reputation as a destination for students across Mississippi and beyond. The latest enrollment numbers mark another significant step in that journey.
From classrooms and laboratories to athletic fields, performance spaces and student organizations, PRCC continues to create an environment where students can discover their purpose and find their place within the Wildcat Family.
The college’s continued growth reflects a commitment to meeting students where they are while providing pathways that lead to valuable university transfer opportunities, workforce success, personal growth and lifelong achievement.
“For the past decade, we have watched The River rise, and this year’s enrollment numbers show that momentum is stronger than ever,” said Dr. Kari Eve Valence, Director of Marketing & Recruitment. “But 7,142 is more than a number. It is 7,142 Wildcats who have chosen Pearl River as part of their journey. It is families placing their trust in us, students believing in what is possible, and generations of Wildcats continuing a legacy that began long before them. We are incredibly excited about the future of PRCC and proud to be part of a college that continues to move forward with purpose.”
PRCC’s continued success also reflects the strength of the college’s academic offerings, including university-transfer programs, career and technical education, allied health, online learning, and opportunities designed to serve traditional and nontraditional students.
With 7,142 Wildcats now calling Pearl River home, the college enters another academic year with its sights firmly set on the future. At Pearl River Community College, the future is being built one Wildcat at a time.
Whether you’re stepping onto campus for the very first time, preparing to graduate, or returning years later as a proud alumnus, every Wildcat has an opportunity to make a lasting impact.
Pearl River’s 2026-27 academic theme, Living My Legacy, celebrates the idea that a legacy is not something reserved for the distant future. It is something students begin creating the moment they become Wildcats. Every class attended, challenge overcome, friendship formed, championship won, performance delivered, credential earned, and goal achieved becomes part of that legacy.
The college invites students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members to share the people, experiences, and opportunities that have shaped their journey by using #LivingMyLegacy on social media.
Enrolling at Pearl River has never been easier:
- Apply for Admissions online and have your transcript(s) sent from high school and any past colleges you have attended.
- Apply for Financial Aid, including completing your FAFSA. Submit your ACT score for academic scholarships.
- Apply for Housing if needed
Visit PRCC.EDU/Admissions to become a Wildcat today.
(Photos by PRCC Communications)
