Felicia Torsclair dreams of one day attending LSU after completing her degree at Louisiana Technical College. Torsclair is studying office assistance technology and plans to major in veterinary medicine. “I wanted to go to LSU after I finish my technical degree,” Torsclair said. “I just need something to get me going for a little while.” Torsclair said she chose LTC because all programs are less than two years and tuition is cheaper. “I went to BRCC, and it took too long,” Torsclair said. “I wanted to get it over with.” LSU has a competitive and athletic edge over several of its competing state institutions, but since 2006, the Louisiana Technical College system has given major universities like LSU a run for their money in enrollment numbers. Enrollment numbers at the LTC system continue to grow as LSU’s numbers decrease. Community College Week recently ranked LTC Baton Rouge campus as the No. 15 fastest growing two-year college in the nation with less than 2,500 students. Enrollment increased 19.7 percent from 1,246 students in fall 2006 to 1,491 students in fall 2007. But LSU’s enrollment decreased 5 percent from 24,589 students in fall 2006 to 23,397 students in fall 2007. Kay McDaniel, LTC-Region 2 director, said the increase in enrollment began after Hurricane Katrina when more students came in for work training. McDaniel said the LTC curriculum has exit points. Students can come for a semester and leave with enough skills to work. Many extra classes like western civilization are not offered. “I think a big thing in education is time,” McDaniel said. “Our whole mission is to put people to work.” The average student spends 15 to 24 months at LTC. McDaniel said she thinks it is beneficial for a student to train specifically in one area and go to work quicker. “I really think we are serving a niche in education,” McDaniel said. “There’s a need for schools like LSU, but I think we are a service need for the state.” LTC offers the lowest tuition in the state. Tuition is based on the number of credit hours each student is taking. The average full-time student takes 12 credit hours and pays approximately $463 per semester. McDaniel said she thinks time and money are the main reasons more students are opting to attend two-year and technical colleges instead of four-year universities. Mary Parker, executive director of the LSU Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Student Aid, said one of the main issues is students and families think they do not have the necessary finances to pay for a university such as LSU. “I think our low-income families or first-generation students think they don’t have what they need and think LSU isn’t affordable,” Parker said. “We’re trying to make sure LSU is affordable.” The average full-time student attends LSU for five to six years and could end up spending more than $25,000 on tuition as a resident and more than $71,000 as a nonresident. Parker said financial aid is there to let students know that college is accessible. Financial counselors work with current and prospective students with funding. “We will see total enrollment go down,” Parker said. “We’re working to attract new students and keep the students we already have. We have several new scholarship programs to attract bright, new students.” The LSU National Scholar’s Award recognizes finalists or semifinalists in national academic competitive programs and students who score in the 80 percentile of the PSAT, SAT or ACT or students who rank in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class. The Pelican Promise is for low income students whose family income is equal or less than 150 percent of the poverty level. Each of the new scholarship’s award value is equal to the price of tuition and the registration fee.