NORTHRIDGE : CSUN Enrollment Figures Appear Low

With a final head count still two weeks away, early indicators show that enrollment at Cal State Northridge is slightly down, and is likely to be the lowest of the last three years.

CSUN opened the school year Aug. 30 with 26,023 students registered, said Lorraine Newlon, director of admissions and records. But university officials emphasize that the numbers are subject to considerable flux before the end of the period for adding and dropping classes Sept. 24.

First-day numbers are expected to increase by up to 9% by the end of the month as late-registering students sign up, Newlon said. Still, the number is smaller than first-day figures for the last three years. Last year 28,019 students had registered on the first day of fall classes, and 29,320 the previous year.

Overall, enrollment throughout the Cal State system is expected to be down this year, due to budget constraints and other factors. But because school hasn’t started yet on many CSU campuses, no systemwide averages are available.

Average enrollment at CSUN last year was 27,830, a number that represents a slow decline from record high CSUN enrollment of 31,500 in 1988, Newlon said. This year--based in part on a complex calculation involving availability of money, classroom space and the number of transfers from community colleges--officials had projected CSUN’s total annual enrollment would be about 26,157, Newlon said.

It’s possible, however, that the actual enrollment figures will exceed projections.

One reason could be that this fall’s 10% tuition increase was lower than many students expected, said Rodney Lazar, vice president of the Associated Students.

Also, because some classes are no longer offered every semester, some students might abandon plans to take time off.

Speech communications senior Kameron Parker said she had considered leaving for a semester to earn money for school, but “with class cutbacks it’s almost impossible. You definitely need to take courses whenever they are offered or you won’t get them,” she said.