By Cynthia Hubert

October 14, 2024

On the strength of new outreach efforts, Sacramento State’s Fall 2024 semester enrollment grew by more than 700 students.

The University’s headcount for the semester stands at 30,912, a 2.4% jump compared to the Fall 2023 semester, said Joel Schwartz, Sac State’s senior strategic research analyst. Undergraduate unit loads also rose slightly.

Statistics show that Sac State, CSU, and colleges across the country appear to be slowly recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted teaching and learning beginning in March 2020.

“These strategic efforts have made Sac State a more attractive option for students seeking a supportive and inclusive learning environment.” -- Shiva Pillai, interim senior associate vice president for Enrollment Management

The challenges of studying from home and other hardships caused by the pandemic slowed academic progress for many students, officials said. Today, most courses at Sac State are held in person.

“While some institutions emerged from the pandemic lesser than they were before, we emerged a stronger Sac State,” President Luke Wood said. “Sac State is on the rise.”

Officials attributed Sac State’s enrollment bump to University-wide outreach to students who were at risk of missing registration deadlines. University representatives contacted thousands of students and worked with them to complete the process.

“We are working hard to ensure that we’re reaching people as early as we can,” Wood said.

Officials also cited new programs meant to attract students from diverse backgrounds. Those include the Black Honors College, partnerships with area community colleges, recruitment of international students, and the launching of Combat U, which focuses on students interested in boxing and other combat sports.

“President Luke Wood’s innovative programs have sparked new life into the campus community,” said Shiva Pillai, Sac State’s interim senior associate vice president for Enrollment Management.

Through news coverage and marketing campaigns, Sac State is attracting students who may otherwise have overlooked the campus, Wood said.

“We’re telling our story; the beauty of our campus, the success of our graduates, our hands-on education.”

Pillai agreed. “The enrollment rise is fueled by these programs and partnerships and enhanced support for students through expanded resources and infrastructure improvements,” he said.

“These strategic efforts have made Sac State a more attractive option for students seeking a supportive and inclusive learning environment.”

Sac State’s enrollment increase mirrors a trend that shows undergraduate enrollment up about 2.5% nationally, reports the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. The center’s data includes community colleges as well as four-year universities.

CSU enrollment for first-year freshmen also is trending upward.

Increasing enrollment means that Sac State may qualify for more state funding, which likely will translate into more programs and infrastructure projects to benefit students, Wood said.

“Sac State’s enrollment growth reflects the University’s ongoing efforts to provide accessible education and robust support for students,” Pillai said, “helping them succeed in an evolving academic landscape while contributing to the regional and state economy.”