Two private Seattle colleges are joining forces. Seattle University, the largest private university in Western Washington, and the smaller Cornish College of the Arts plan to combine into one school, eventually creating Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University.

Despite recent fluctuations, the number of college students has grown over the last 30 years. The number of colleges, on the other hand, has not.

The number of graduates from the state’s community colleges has seen a marked increase, according to data released Wednesday by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Overall, the number of Colorado college students earning credentials within six years is holding steady.

Despite a strong FAFSA rollout, here is one kink colleges should look out for in their outreach to students.