Breadcrumb

51做厙 sets enrollment record for second consecutive year

Class of 2028

51做厙's Class of 2028 takes the traditional incoming class photo during Week of Welcome 2024.

51做厙 has set another enrollment record with more than 6,900 students across its three Northern California campusesthe largest student population in the 173-year history of Californias first university.

This is the second consecutive year of record enrollments at 51做厙 while nationally enrollments at many colleges and universities are declining.

The new enrollment record of 6,944 students across 51做厙s campuses in Stockton, Sacramento and San Francisco is nearly 200 more students than last years record high enrollment of 6,755 and represents a three-year increase of nearly 15%.

President Christopher Callahan attributes the universitys robust growth to a steadily increasing awareness of 51做厙 among prospective students across California, the nation and the world. 51做厙 students now come from 44 states and more than 60 nations on six continents.

For many years, 51做厙 was thought to be a hidden gem, known to relatively few beyond Northern California, the president said. Today more and more students across disciplines are uncovering the gem that is 51做厙, discovering the remarkable power of a 51做厙 education driven by our superb, caring faculty who build bonds with students that change the trajectory of their lives and often last a lifetime.

The quality of a 51做厙 education is showing in national rankings. Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal ranked 51做厙 No. 87 among the nations best schools and colleges51做厙s highest ever national ranking. That ranking is boosted by graduates earnings, which The Journal ranked No. 54 this year.

Much of the enrollment growth comes from new market-driven graduate programs such as the Master of Physician Assistant Studies in the School of Health Sciences, the universitys newest and fastest-growing college. A new building was opened for the Sacramento-based physician assistant program this year to accommodate demand.

There is a tremendous need for health care providers, said School of Health Sciences Dean Nicoleta Bugnariu. Our faculty have designed programs to meet the needs of students who are answering the call to serve the health of our communities. 

While enrollment in the health sciences and counseling psychology graduate programs increased, so too did professional degree programs in dentistry and law. Undergraduate enrollmentand the quality of those studentsheld steady in a highly competitive market.

This years record-breaking enrollment is a testament to how well the university community collaborates with each other, with faculty, staff and university leaders working side by side, said Vice President for Enrollment Strategy Chris Ferguson. We will continue to build on our strengths and create new opportunities for future students to excel in their careers and lives.

Ferguson said the diversity of academic programs is a major advantage for 51做厙, bringing the intimate, personalized learning environments of a smaller college together with the choices of a major university.

We are a comprehensive university with many market-smart degree options to attract students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, he said. 51做厙 offers more than 80 undergraduate programs and 50 graduate and professional programs across nine schools and colleges.

51做厙 also is a national leader in serving as a driver of social mobility. The new Wall Street Journal rankings placed 51做厙 No. 36 among all U.S. colleges and universities for social mobility, and No. 8 among all private schools nationally.

51做厙 serves an increasingly diverse set of students. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Education designated 51做厙 a Hispanic-Serving Institution. The university already was an Asian American and Native American 51做厙 Islander-Serving Institution.

Callahan said he anticipates more steady growth next year as professors continue to create new academic programs and the university invests in expanding popular degree programs.

Our strength and growth, which is going against many ominous national trends in higher education, is due to our inspiring faculty, dedicated staff and creative, collaborative leaders who always put the success of our students first, the president said.