It will be interesting this fall to compare enrollment figures between state universities and community colleges in Kansas.

State universities, including Kansas University, have maintained relatively stable enrollments in recent years despite significant tuition increases. However, the place where the state is seeing real enrollment growth most recently is at community colleges.

A recent story in the Wichita Eagle took a look at soaring enrollment at several community colleges in that area, some of which also offer classes in Ottawa and other locations closer to Lawrence. Summer enrollment at Butler Community College was up by 25 percent over last year, and Barton Community College was looking at a 30 percent enrollment increase. Hutchinson Community College already was up by 10 percent for the fall semester with almost two weeks to go before classes start.

Closer to home, Johnson County Community College hasn’t released any fall enrollment figures but reported an increase of about 10 percent in both its number of students and the number of hours taken this summer.

It’s part of a nationwide trend most often attributed to the struggling economy. People who have lost jobs or are trying to better prepare themselves for a competitive job market often turn to the kind of technical or vocational training offered at community colleges.

Then there are students who may eventually want to complete a four-year degree but are looking for a lower-cost way to get freshman and sophomore classes under their belts. Community college tuition is a fraction of what it costs to attend a four-year university, and the schools often are located closer to a student’s home, further reducing the cost.

Rising university tuition undoubtedly has caused many Kansas students to take a second look at community colleges. Many good jobs don’t require a four-year degree, and community colleges are better equipped to provide that training.

That isn’t all bad, but it’s something for universities to consider when they set tuition rates. Universities serve a different role in the state’s higher education system, but community colleges may be giving them some real competition when it comes to how Kansans choose to spend their education dollars.