Northridge : CSUN Enrollment Rises, Stopping Trend

Enrollment increased this fall at Cal State Northridge and in the broader California State University system for the first time in five years, officials reported Wednesday. But student populations at both remained among their lowest levels in years.

Breaking four consecutive years of decline, the official fall enrollment at CSUN rose 2.9% to 25,015, ranking CSUN as the fifth largest among the Cal State system’s 20 established campuses. Yet the tally still was CSUN’s second lowest fall enrollment in the past 22 years.

Statewide, enrollment at the 20 major Cal State campuses rose 1.7% to 324,882, also ending four years of declines. It was the system’s second lowest tally in the past decade. Only last year did both CSUN and the Cal State system hit lower enrollment figures any time in recent years.

The Northridge campus’ enrollment, which already had been falling through the 1990s, plummeted an additional 11% last fall after the January, 1994, Northridge earthquake. And because of the campus’ size, that decline doubled the system’s loss for the year to 1.9%.

Apart from time passing after the quake, the enrollment picture at CSUN and in the Cal State system was aided by another factor this fall: For the first time in years, Gov. Pete Wilson and the state Legislature did not increase state tuition for Cal State students.

The Northridge campus also undertook a major recruiting effort during the past year to boost enrollment. The campus was under pressure from Cal State system officials, who have been financially subsidizing the school for its enrollment losses in the wake of the earthquake.

From its recent peak of 31,166 students in fall, 1990, Northridge’s enrollment this fall is down 20%, or 6,151 students. In comparison, the entire Cal State system enrollment this fall is down 12%, or 44,171 students, from its all-time high of 369,053 students that same year.

Statewide, 18 of the 20 major Cal State campuses posted increases. All Southern California campuses gained, including Fullerton and Dominguez Hills (2.3%), Pomona (1.8%), San Bernardino (.8%), and Los Angeles and Long Beach (.5%). Only the San Jose and Chico campuses posted losses.