TRI-CITIES -- There is an upside to a down economy. Local community colleges are seeing record enrollment. These tough times for job seekers have more people heading back to school.

"We're getting increases in every area of the college," said CBC president Rich Cummins.

It's another record breaker for Columbia Basin College. Summer enrollment is above last year's record. The number signed up for fall is already up and it's only June.

"Record enrollment in the worst economy in 80 years. More people want to come back to college but there are fewer slots for them," Cummins said.

CBC's president looks at enrollment every week. He sees a direct link to the number of students and the number out of work.

Oregon just released its unemployment figures. The unemployment rate is not going up as fast as it was, but at 12.4%, it's still a record breaker.

That is more than double this time last year, and one of the worst rates in the country. Washington releases its numbers Tuesday.

"People losing jobs, it's (college) an alternative in hopes of getting a job again," said Sarah Conley.

Conley should know, she's a community college student.

"My mother is about to enroll and she's 42. She thinks a college degree will get her a better job," said Conley.

Action News called four different schools: Yakima Valley Community College, Blue Mountain Community College, CBC and Walla Walla Community College.

At WWCC, the school saw a 25% increase in Spring enrollment compared to Spring 2008.

All four schools told us the same thing. They're seeing more students apply and more students enroll.

But it's all happening while the schools’ budgets are getting slimmer.

"Don't be discouraged by the competition for seats. Motivated students will find what they need here. We're open for business," said Cummins.

Open for business in a time of bad business. Students might just have to wait out the recession in the classroom, so that they are first in line when jobs open back up.

So what programs are most popular right now? CBC's president says computer science and health-related fields.

Five years ago they had five health programs. Now they have nearly two dozen with plans to add more.