MEMBER NEWS: CSU sets another first-year student enrollment record
All-time high for first-year student enrollment and steady overall growth reported,
despite FAFSA challenges, including at three CVHEC member CSU campuses
For the second consecutive year, the California State University (CSU) welcomed an all-time high number of first-time, first-year students for fall 2024—more than 68,500 new students across its 23 universities, including at the three CSU members of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium: Bakersfield, Fresno and Stanislaus.
Preliminary data the university reported in October also show an overall enrollment increase of 2% from the previous year to more than 461,000 students, as well as a similar percentage growth in the number of California residents enrolled. CSU’s enrollment for 2024 is also reflective of California’s dynamically diverse demographics, with more than half of first-year students from historically underserved groups (Latinx, Black, Native American).
This week, the three CSU members of the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium provided these campus breakdowns for the fall 2024 semester:
- CSU Bakersfield’s total campus enrollment of 10,770 represents 6% growth including a 7% increase in First-time First-year students, a 34% increase in new transfer students, a 7% increase in Latinx students (69% of all students are Latinx) and a 5% increase in African American students
- Fresno State welcomed a record-setting number of new undergraduate students and transfer students (6,541) this fall: 3,676 freshmen and 2,865 transfer students. Total enrollment for the university’s 114th academic year is 24,310. 57% of its students come from Fresno County while 82% come from the broader six-county region (Fresno, Madera, Kings, Tulare, Merced and Mariposa counties).
- Stanislaus State’s total fall enrollment of 9,295 included an increase in new undergraduate students with 8,243. This was fueled by a 6% increase in new first-time transfer students from 1,241 to 1,316.
“This promising upward momentum demonstrates the confidence that Californians have in the extraordinary power of a CSU degree to transform lives, particularly for America’s new majority, comprised of first-generation students, students of color, low-income students and adults seeking new opportunities,” said Chancellor Mildred García.
“Our world-class faculty and staff look forward to supporting our new scholars’ success as the CSU continues to advance our multi-year, holistic enrollment growth strategy, focusing on recruitment, retention and strengthening pathways for community college transfer students.”
The CSU’s increased enrollment numbers for fall 2024 are also a testament to the monumental efforts of financial aid staff across the 23 universities to ensure that admitted students and their families had additional time to receive and consider financial aid offers that were delayed as a result of the difficulties in the rollout of the 2024-25 FAFSA—the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the CSU report said.
“University financial aid teams worked tirelessly to meet urgent needs, including quickly reaching out to students with incomplete FAFSAs, offering care and reassurance to concerned students and parents, and rapidly processing thousands of provisional aid offers once federal data was received,” the report said.
The CSU also joined the University of California to extend its intent to register deadline for new students to allow more time for students to consider financial aid packages.
The report said that while many states saw double-digit declines in FAFSA applications this year, thanks in large part to the CSU’s efforts, as of August, California is among the top 15 states with the highest 2024-25 FAFSA completion rates.
“What’s more, federal Pell Grant awards for CSU students increased systemwide and at most campuses for fall 2024,” the report said. “Increases in federal Pell awards improve access and affordability and minimize debt for CSU’s diverse students.”
Although fall 2024 overall systemwide enrollment is not expected to exceed pre-pandemic numbers, the preliminary data signals additional growth in the coming years. In addition to a record-breaking first-time, first-year student headcount, the CSU saw growth over 2023 enrollment among transfer students (7%), continuing undergraduate students (1%) and graduate students (2%).
Preliminary CSU Systemwide Enrollment for Fall 2024
- 461,439 total students (2% growth)
- 408,151 undergraduates
- 68,525 first-year students (on par with 2023 all-time high)
- 52,261 transfer students (7% growth)
- 53,288 graduate and post baccalaureate students (2% growth)
- 96% of California first-year applicants were admitted
- 7% increase in California Community College transfers
- 58% of first-year students are from historically underserved groups (Black, Native American, Latinx). (54% of all undergraduates are from historically underserved groups)
- 54% of first-year students are Latinx (50% of all undergraduates are Latinx)
- 4% of first-year students are Black (4% of all undergraduates are Black)
- 52% of first-year students are from low-income families (50% of all undergraduates are from low-income families)
See the original CSU press release (Oct. 8 , 2024)
Media contact for each campus:
CSU Bakersfield: Jennifer Self – jself@csub.edu or (661) 319-8778
CSU Stanislaus: Rosalee Billingslea Rush – rbrush@csustan.edu or 209-664-6780.
Fresno State: Lisa Bell – lbell@csufresno.edu or 559.278.5366
About the California State University
The California State University is the nation’s largest four-year public university system, providing transformational opportunities for upward mobility to more than 450,000 students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. More than half of CSU students are from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, and more than one-quarter of undergraduates are first-generation college students. Because the CSU’s 23 universities provide a high-quality education at an incredible value, they are rated among the best in the nation for promoting social mobility in national college rankings from U.S. News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal and Washington Monthly. The CSU powers California and the nation, sending nearly 127,000 career-ready graduates into the workforce each year. In fact, one in every 20 Americans holding a college degree earned it at the CSU. Connect with and learn more about the CSU in the CSU newsroom.
