California University of Pa. enrollment dips again
Exterior of the student union at California University of Pennsylvania
CALIFORNIA – California University of Pennsylvania is experiencing its fifth consecutive year of enrollment declines in a consistent trend across the State System of Higher Education.
The state-owned school in California Borough has 7,553 students attending classes this semester, down from a record high of 9,483 in 2001, State System records indicate.
“The number of high school graduates, it’s continuing to decline,” State System spokesman Kenn Marshall said.
He said estimates show some high schools are seeing a 30- to 40-percent decline in the number of graduates, and the problem is worse in Western Pennsylvania.
“It really impacts us a lot,” Marshall said.
Cal U. spokeswoman Christine Kindl said “demographics is a big part” of the university’s latest enrollment decline, which reflects a 3.8 percent drop from the previous term.
Overall, the State System’s 14 universities lost 2,347 students from this time last year. West Chester University of Pennsylvania continues to experience growth, showing a 30.9 percent enrollment increase since 2005.
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania also is bucking the trend by adding 253 students this term, taking enrollment there to 8,881.
Marshall said Slippery Rock added high-tech programs and conducted aggressive marketing to increase its enrollment.
Kindl said the positive news about Cal U. is its freshman class and the number of transferring students this semester is nearly the same as it was last term.
“It’s a sign that the dip is leveling off and we can build from that point onward,” Kindl said.