As of Sept. 8, Highline Community College’s enrollment is up 10.4 percent compared to the same time last fall with more than 7,300 students ready to start fall classes Sept. 20.

In addition, the college’s Financial Aid office is seeing more students wanting and needing help paying for school.

As of Sept. 8, applications for financial aid increased 13.5 percent compared to the same time last year. Total Pell Grant funding awarded to needy students jumped 84 percent from $4.8 million during the 2008-09 academic year to $8.9 million during the 2009-10 academic year. The Federal Pell Grant program provides need-based grants to low-income students.

Students also are seeking help from the college’s workforce development programs, but demand exceeds the limited funding and space available.

Due to overwhelming demand, the college’s Worker Retraining program is no longer accepting applications for fall quarter. As of Sept. 8, the program’s enrollment has increased by 111 percent from fall 2008 to fall 2010 during the same time period.

Worker Retraining helps people who are unemployed or facing imminent layoff learn new professional skills to get back in the workforce.

Opportunity Grants program and Basic Food Employment & Training (BFET) have large wait lists for fall quarter and are not likely to fund any more new students.

Opportunity Grants help low-income adults take classes for specific high-wage, high-demand careers. The grant covers tuition for short-term programs, as well as some fees, books and supplies.

The BFET program assists needy students with a variety of college-related expenses, including tuition and fees. BFET is available to students who receive benefits through the state Department of Social & Health Services’ Basic Food program, a food and nutrition program for low-income individuals and families.