Valencia High graduate Christian Mogan arrived at College of the Canyons on Monday, ready to begin his college career.

But instead of securing a seat in his first class, all the 18-year-old could get was a spot on a waitlist — the vast majority of the college’s classes were full before the fall semester’s first student set foot on campus.

“It’s been kind of a disappointing day,” Mogan said.

Although Mogan tried to stay positive, he had a backup plan if he couldn’t get in: He’d get a job and try again next term.

It was an experience shared by many others at the Santa Clarita Valley’s only community college, as students started the new school year struggling to get the classes they need. Monday marked the college’s first day of the fall semester, drawing thousands of students from the Santa Clarita Valley and surrounding communities to pack up their book bags and go back to classes.

This fall, COC is offering 1,480 courses, but by Monday, only 112 of the courses had any seats open, said Mitjl Capet, assistant superintendent and vice president of instruction. However, many of the classes were higher-level courses that not all students qualify for.

“We expected that we would have more students than we have seats for,” he said.

The leaner course offerings are thanks to the state budget crisis, which has been cutting money to California community colleges.

At COC, educators have focused on offering popular classes, like English, math and science, while cutting the amount of traditionally low-enrolled courses.

“It’s almost as if the seat in the class has become of greater value, which is a good thing,” Capet said.

Even with the strategy and goal to be as fair to students as possible, students are coming back to school and finding themselves on waitlists.

Naeri Khanian, of Granada Hills, is hoping to get into the University of California, Los Angeles’ nursing program by the spring semester. But she needs to complete a handful of prerequisite courses at College of the Canyons to qualify for the program. On Monday, she was keeping her fingers crossed that one of her three classes would find a space for her.

If not, Khanian, 27, said she’s registered for classes at Pasadena City College and Pierce College, and would try there.

And returning students have noticed the influx of classmates.

Second-year student Georgina Garay, 19, was puzzled by how many new students, especially freshmen, were hitting the campus.

“It didn’t seem this packed last year,” the Valencia resident said.

And those who were able to snag a seat were ready to start the new school year.

“I’m super-excited,” said 19-year-old Ben Michel, of Newhall. “I was bored at home.”