The number of full-time college places funded by the Scottish Government has fallen by more than 1,800, new figures have revealed.
Although ministers met the target of providing at least 116,000 funded full time equivalent (FTE) places in 2015-16, the total dropped from 119,023 the previous year to 117,204.
A record 24,317 college students successfully completed higher education courses last year, achieving degrees, HNC and HND qualifications among others.
Read more: Scotland's top universities urged to drop entry rules in key courses for disadvantaged students
There was also a small rise in the number of people studying at college, increasing by 339 to 227,258 in 2015-16, according to data from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC).
Despite this, there were more than 150,000 students less at colleges than in 2007-08, when the total peaked at 379,233 students.
The Conservatives and Labour criticised the Scottish Government over the decline in student numbers.
Tory education spokeswoman Liz Smith said: "Colleges play a pivotal role in our education system, so it's deeply concerning that student numbers have dropped to this level.
"Each year colleges help prepare thousands of people for the world of work by giving them the skills they need to get on in life yet the SNP have chosen to implement huge cuts to the sector.
"The SNP's record on education since they came to power is shameful and they need to reverse their draconian cuts to college funding as soon as possible."
Read more: Scotland's top universities urged to drop entry rules in key courses for disadvantaged students
Monica Lennon, Labour's inequalities spokeswoman, said the fall meant there had been "150,000 missed opportunities under the nationalists".
She stated: "Nicola Sturgeon promised to make education her defining mission as First Minister - but instead opportunities for people to go on to college have been choked off by her government.
"SNP ministers are always focused on the short-term but the long-term damage of this disastrous approach to colleges is now evident - slower growth, stagnating wages and rising levels of economic inactivity."
In its report, the SFC said: "The fall in headcount between its peak in 2007-08 is primarily because of the policy shift away from short courses and non-recognised qualifications that did not support labour market demands."
Other figures it published showed that, overall, 90.1% of full-time students and 93.1% of part-time students were satisfied with their experience.
Read more: Scotland's top universities urged to drop entry rules in key courses for disadvantaged students
Further and higher education minister Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "The SFC statistics published today give us a great overview of the fantastic work being done in the college sector and also highlights areas where we know there is more work to do.
"I am extremely pleased to see increases in the number of full-time students successfully completing recognised qualifications and that 90.5% of students are satisfied with their overall college experience.
"This shows that college students are not only gaining the valuable skills and education they need for gainful employment, but that they are learning in the right environment for them.
"The additional £41.5 million funding we have allocated to colleges next financial year will build on this success."
Read more: Scotland's top universities urged to drop entry rules in key courses for disadvantaged students
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said the "legacy of years of SNP college cuts has been laid bare" as he said: "We need to see the cuts reversed and end the college funding squeeze.
"To build a high-wage, high-skilled economy, we need to ensure that Scots can get the training they need to get on in the workplace. But on the SNP's watch we have seen 150,000 college places wiped out."
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