New data released Monday shows a mixed picture for the California State University system’s enrollment this fall.
The Bay Area News Group reports overall student enrollment grew for the second year in a row, with a 2% increase systemwide, bringing the total number of students to over 471,000. San Jose State University, for example, saw a jump of 6.5%. Officials call the growth a signal of strength and stability.
However, the CSU system’s international student enrollment dropped for the third consecutive year, falling by 7.8%. International students pay full tuition, making this decline a concern for the cash-strapped university system, which is facing a $2.3 billion budget deficit.
The drop mirrors a national trend amid the Trump administration’s increased scrutiny and revocation of international student visas. Locally, while most campuses grew, Cal State LA, San Francisco State, and Sonoma State all saw continued enrollment declines this fall.
