SDSU Fall 2004 Student Data Show Positive Trends
Class Loads, Continuation Rates, Student Diversity Increase

CONTACT: Jason Foster
SDSU Marketing & Communications
Phone (619) 594-2585 Pager (619) 620-1184
foster@mail.sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO, November 10, 2004 –San Diego State University’s latest enrollment figures show important gains for students in a number of areas, including class loads and success rates for freshmen.

The SDSU fall 2004 enrollment census also shows student diversity has increased slightly, total enrollment is on track with the university’s budget, and enrollment at the Imperial Valley Campus is growing.

“San Diego State University has changed in many ways in recent years, and one of the changes of which we are most proud is that our students are becoming more and more ambitious academically, resulting in increased retention and higher graduation rates,” said SDSU Provost Nancy Marlin.
“This is the result of a collective effort across the university to ensure we’re providing the best possible educational environment for our students.”

That effort, Marlin said, includes successful enrollment management practices to keep the student population in line with available funding; prudent budget management by deans and academic departments to provide needed classes; implementing a faster, more accessible Web-based class registration system; and an Instructionally Related Activities (IRA) Fee increase in the spring that enabled the university to fund an additional 224 courses this fall.

Average course loads increased consistently for all levels of undergraduates in fall 2004, with the total undergraduate average rising to 13.1 units, up from 12.8 units in fall 2003. First-time freshmen are undertaking a heavier class load for the fourth straight year, with the fall 2004 average at 14.9 units, up from 14.7 units the year and from 14.0 units in fall 2000.

In addition, first-time freshman continuation rates climbed for the fifth straight year. The overall rate of students re-enrolling at SDSU after their freshman year rose to 82.6 percent, up from 80.1 percent the year before and 71.6 percent in fall 1998. There was a similar increase among students of color, up to 80.6 percent this fall compared to 78.7 percent a year ago and 68.6 percent in fall 1998.

The ethnic diversity of the student body also remains strong. The fall 2004 class of first-time freshmen includes 1,605 students of color compared to 1,431 in fall 2003. Overall, 40.3 percent of all SDSU undergraduates this fall are students of color, compared to 39.7 percent a year ago.

SDSU enrolled 4,111 new first-time freshmen and 3,244 upper-division transfers in fall 2004. The university’s total student headcount is 32,936, down 2.2 percent from 33,676 in fall 2003. Based on these figures and projections for spring, university officials expect the average enrollment over the 2004-05 academic year to be less than one percent over the campus’ state-budgeted enrollment.

Enrollment at SDSU’s Imperial Valley Campus increased slightly to a total of 921 students, with most growth occurring at the recently opened Brawley campus. This is also the second year the Imperial Valley Campus has enrolled first-time freshmen, with 29 enrolled this fall compared to 11 last year.

More detailed enrollment data is available at the Analytic Studies and Institutional Research website, http://asir.sdsu.edu.

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, the university has grown to offer bachelor’s degrees in 81 areas, master’s degrees in 72 areas and doctorates in 16 areas. SDSU’s more than 33,000 students participate in academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.

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