California State University has seen a 2% increase in enrollment for the fall of 2024, with a total of 461,000 students now enrolled in the system. This growth is largely driven by a record number of first-time, first-year students joining the university this fall, totaling more than 68,500 new students. Despite this increase, Cal State has not yet reached its peak enrollment of 485,550 students in 2020, as numbers dipped in the following years, hitting a low of 454,640 students in fall 2023.
In a press release, Chancellor Mildred García emphasized the system’s focus on a multi-year enrollment growth strategy, aiming to recruit and retain students, including community college transfers. The increase in enrollment is seen as a positive sign of Californians’ trust in the transformative power of a CSU degree, especially for first-generation students, students of color, low-income students, and adults seeking new opportunities.
Enrollment data shows a 7% increase in transfer students, a 2% increase in graduate students, and a 1% increase in continuing undergraduate students. Additionally, the majority of first-year students at CSU are Latino, with 4% being Black. However, specific data on Native American, Asian American, and Pacific Islander student enrollment for fall 2024 was not provided in the press release.
The article also highlights the impact of changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on enrollment. Despite concerns about delays and glitches in the new FAFSA process, which could have deterred students from enrolling in college, Cal State saw an increase in enrollment. Financial aid officers and advocates expressed concerns about the challenges faced by California students from mixed-status families in completing the FAFSA.
To address these challenges, both Cal State and the University of California extended their spring deadlines for new students to declare their intent to enroll for fall 2024 classes. California’s universal FAFSA completion policy, passed in 2021, aimed to increase FAFSA completions among high school seniors.
Looking ahead, CSU’s preliminary fall enrollment numbers offer hope for reversing pandemic-related enrollment declines. Despite facing challenges in recent years, the system remains optimistic about future growth and is committed to supporting prospective students in navigating the financial aid process and making informed decisions about their education.
