Enrollment rates declined at Stanislaus State for five years. What contributed to the decline?
Over the past five years, overall undergraduate enrollment at Stanislaus State University has fallen by about 12%.
In fall 2020, freshman enrollment was just shy of 2,000 students. Four years later, it was around 1,500 — about a 25% drop.
Kristina Stamper, director for communications and creative services, said this is a trend most Central Valley higher education institutions are facing. Stamper said the decline is attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, low transfer rates from community colleges, low high school graduation rates, and the price of college.
Stamper also said the university’s enrollment levels are comparable to those in 2015.
“Despite this, there are promising signs of recovery,” she said. “...Over the past two semesters, Stan State has seen a rebound in first-time, first-year students and transfer student enrollment. Additionally, there has been a noticeable growth in graduate and credential programs, which play a crucial role in addressing the evolving needs of the region.”
The university is expanding outreach efforts to high schools and middle schools to increase access to higher education. In addition, President Britt Rios-Ellis made Spanish language communication and outreach a priority.
While Stamper said Stanislaus State’s enrollment reflects a national trend affecting higher education institutes, and the decline has been less pronounced than the average across other CSU campuses, it is a critical goal to increase enrollment.
“While declining enrollment can lead to reduced tuition revenue, Stanislaus State is actively exploring and implementing strategies to diversify revenue sources,” she said. “This approach ensures we continue to meet the needs of our campus community, sustain academic excellence and maintain a thriving learning environment, even in the face of enrollment challenges.”
This story was originally published January 30, 2025 at 10:03 AM.
