Enrollment at public colleges rose for the first time in a decade. Higher ed leaders credit historic state funding and innovative college access initiatives. For the first time in over a decade, enrollment is up at Minnesota’s public colleges and universities, thanks to a record year of state funding and investment in a slew of new college-access initiatives. The surge was most evident at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, which includes 26 community and technical colleges in addition to seven four-year institutions. Enrollment rose 2 percent system-wide and 3.7 percent at two-year institutions, while numbers remained relatively stable at the four-year colleges, according to system officials.