Applications Down, Admissions Up

The number of students applying to CSU is down, while the number of students admitted is up. This is the state of the Fall 2026 enrollment situation reported to the CSU Faculty Senate by CSU President Stuart Rayfield during the group's January 2026 meeting. Rayfield also presented a number of other statistics, including the fact that Fall 2025 enrollment was down 3.31% while student credit hour production was down 2.5%. For Spring 2026, enrollment is up 2% and student credit hour production is up 2.25%. Despite these improvements, enrollment and SCH for the 2025-26 academic year is down, and even more so than comparison of the % statistics above would indicate since spring enrollments/SCH are typically smaller than fall enrollments/SCH. On a positive note, the number of new undergraduate students is up 43%, or by 151 students, since Fall of 2024. Also, dual enrollment is up, graduate student enrollment is up 4.6% and graduate SCH is up 5.21%. Still, the returning undergraduate student headcount, mostly sophomores and juniors, is down 2.1%. At best, these numbers paint a mixed picture for CSU, which is the only USG institution whose Fall 2025 enrollment fell. The top line, and title of this blog, suggests that student qualifications may be lower starting in the 2026-27 academic year. Stay connected to Turner Business for more on CSU's enrollment picture.