DURHAM -- After three years in the military, 30-year-old Ryan Zudonyi wants to work as a sportscaster. Registering for classes at Durham Technical Community College on Wednesday morning was his first step toward that goal.

"I came out of the military, I had a few skills," said Zudonyi, who lives in Durham. "I had a chance to have my college paid for, I figured I'd come back to school and do something I'd like to do, and go into journalism."

Students like Zudoyni have helped push preliminary fall registration at Durham Tech to nearly 3,400 students. Administrators said that's an increase of roughly 100 students over the same time period last year. And they believe a weak economy helped boost enrollment.

"Every time that the economy has been difficult, we see more students coming back and saying, 'Now's the time for me to get additional credentials so I can get a better job,’" said Tom Jaynes, dean of student development at Durham Tech.

He said gas prices have made an impact too.

"Students are demanding more condensed class schedules, so for instance, rather than taking classes three days a week, they want two days a week," he explained. "Or they want the campus that's closest to them."

Camisha Winstead said the economy helped push her back into the classroom.

"It gives me the chance to go back and get more skills," said Winstead, who has spent the past three years working as a licensed practical nurse. "I would like to be a registered nurse, and you can't do that as a licensed practical nurse."

Zudonyi said he's not surprised to hear that more and more students turn to community colleges as the economy goes down and gas prices rise.

"Because in this day and age we live in, with the economy the way it is, gas prices going up, people are wanting to better themselves, to get better jobs rather than trying to settle for minimum wage," he said.