Cal Poly has received a record-high number of applications from those vying for a spot at the university for fall 2022.
In total, 68,009 students had applied to Cal Poly as of Dec. 15, according to California State University data. That’s up from 65,535 the year before.
This marks the second straight year that the San Luis Obispo university has seen an increase in applications, and it’s due to a myriad of factors, according to Terrance Harris, Cal Poly’s vice president for strategic enrollment management.
“The value of a Cal Poly degree remains very strong,” Harris wrote in an emailed statement to The Tribune. “Our ‘Learn by Doing’ academic philosophy, the work of our faculty and staff on campus, and the extremely talented students that attend Cal Poly continue to make an impact that is recognizable. Our teams in admissions and beyond work hard to build relationships and cultivate a strong applicant pool.”
First-time freshman applicants — those looking to enter immediately after high school — applied in greater numbers than ever to the university, while transfer applications were down.
The CSU data show that 59,004 students applied to be freshmen at the university, up from 54,609 the year before. And 9,005 students applied as transfers from another college or university, down from 10,905 last year.
Those numbers reflect a similar trend across all CSU campuses.
Overall, the CSU system has seen an increase in freshman applications — 608,569 total had applied as of Dec. 15, up from 538,002 — while transfer applications declined 13.5% to 221,653 this year. That chalks up to a 4.5% increase so far in total applications from fall 2021.
“Transfer students have been struggling because of impacts related to the global pandemic,” wrote Toni Molle, director of strategic communications and public affairs for the CSU, in an email to The Tribune. “This population of students has faced more obstacles. Enrollment managers attribute the decrease to students having to prioritize obligations such as caring for children or other relatives or finding it necessary to work additional hours.”
The increase in applications across most CSU campuses comes as a stark contrast to the numbers seen last year.
Out of the 23 CSU campuses, only Cal Poly SLO, San Diego State, Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Bakersfield had more first-time freshman applicants for fall 2021 than the previous year, according to CSU data.
The CSU saw a 5% decrease in freshman and transfer applications for fall 2021 compared to fall 2020. This year, the system saw a 12.5% increase in freshman applications and a 14% decrease in transfer applications, according to the most recent data.
The increase in freshman applications at Cal Poly might mean the university may become even more selective as it offers acceptances, as it has limited capacity.
That meant in fall 2021, about 15,000 4.0 students were turned away from Cal Poly, and some majors accepted just a small fraction of their applicants.
Cal Poly’s undergrad enrollment of 21,903 students in the 2021-22 academic year was down 1.7% from the year prior, but still near full capacity.
“Applications alone do not dictate our ability to grow enrollment,” Harris wrote. “Cal Poly does have a slightly higher undergraduate enrollment target this year compared to last year, and we will look to facilitate modest long-term growth in accordance with our master plan. However, we remain highly competitive for admission and will not be able to accommodate all of the qualified applicants who apply to Cal Poly.”
The new applications information came as Cal Poly was once again ranked among the top 10 “best value” universities in California, in an elite list filled with UC campuses and private schools.
Cal Poly placed at No. 6 on the list, right behind UC San Diego and UC Berkeley and ahead of UC Davis, UC Irvine and UCLA.
Its high average starting salaries for new graduates — at $70,500 — helped fuel the high ranking.
CORRECTION: This article was corrected with the right number of applications Cal Poly received as of Dec. 15, which was 68,009.
This story was originally published March 21, 2022 5:00 AM.
