Chemeketa Facts and Stats

Researching Chemeketa as a potential choice for your education or employment? Our facts and statistics for a quick overview.

AY 2023-24 Student Profile (credit students)

Total Credit Students: 12,632

(Full-time is defined as attempting 36 credits or more during the academic year)

Status	Percentage
Full-time	20%
Part-time	80%

Student General Interest
Interest	Percentage
To transfer to a four-year college	35%
To learn skills to get a job	16%
To improve job skills	6%
To explore career and education options	18%
Other	25%

Student Gender
Gender	Percentage
Male	43%
Female	54%

Student Race & Ethnicity
Race	Percentage
Hispanic/Latinx	32.1%
American Indian/Alaskan Native	1.7%
Asian	2.5%
Black/African American	1.5%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander	0.8%
White	50.8%
Two or more races	4.3%
Not given	6.2%

Students identifying as a student of color: 43%

Age	Percentage
25 years and younger	68%
26 years and older	32%

WHEN CHEMEKETA BEGAN OPERATING AS A COMMUNITY COLLEGE?

July 1, 1970
WHY CHEMEKETA IS THE ONLY COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN OREGON NOT NAMED AFTER A LOCATION?

A contest was held among local high school students. Our first Board of Education selected Salem Tech student Susan Blum's entry Chemeketa. It comes from the native Kalapuya language and means "place of peace."
WHY WE HAVE A PEACE GARDEN?

The Peace Garden was dedicated as a memorial to the victims of the September 11 attacks.