Cal U enrollment increase official: first rise in six years
An official headcount for the 2017-18 school year confirmed what officials at California University of Pennsylvania had anticipated — the school’s first enrollment increase in six years.
As enrollment figures were finalized Tuesday, university officials reported gains in both undergraduate and graduate enrollment, with a total of 7,788 students attending Cal U this year.
The student population rose 3.1 percent — or 235 students — over last year to mark the first enrollment increase at the university since 2011.
Tuesday marked the 16th day of instruction for schools in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) on which enrollment numbers are finalized.
Cal U’s undergraduate enrollment, at 5,557 students, rose nearly 1 percent aided by a large freshman class.
Graduate enrollment rose almost 10 percent to 2,231 students, the highest in university history, according to a release from the school.
Earlier in September after preliminary figures predicted enrollment growth, Cal U spokeswoman Christine Kindl said the university was hopeful it had reversed the five-year trend.
Enrollment at Cal U declined sharply over a five-year period after peaking at 9,483 in fall 2011, according to PASSHE data. Enrollment dropped 20 percent from 2011 to 2016, the sixth-largest decline among PASSHE universities in that span.
Last fall, 7,553 undergraduate and graduate students were enrolled at Cal U.
Cal U officials said a variety of factors were behind the enrollment increase, including an emphasis on career-focused academic programs that appeal to recent high school graduates, nontraditional students and working adults.
“Cal U took destiny into its own hands and chose to invest more heavily in science and technology,” said Kindl. “We’re adjusting our programs based on demand in the marketplace. We want to prepare students for careers where there is demand for employment.”
The university recently added academic programs in science and technology, business, and other high-demand fields to align with workforce needs. Its online degree and certificate programs are heavily promoted and remain popular among working adults, said Kindl.
“There is no single reason for our enrollment gains, but I certainly would attribute this good news to hard work on the part of our staff and faculty,” said Dr. Bruce Barnhart, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.
“We’ve made changes beginning with our initial outreach to prospective students and continuing through every step of the admissions and financial aid awarding process. But we don’t stop there. We keep in close touch with students throughout their college experience and provide the support they need on their way to earning a degree,” Barnhart said.