CHICO — On her first day as a university student, freshman Dria Sieker sat outside Tehama Hall and mentioned one of her objectives for the term: “Try to make as many friends as possible.”
The autumn semester has begun at Chico State, with an estimated 14,885 students expected to occupy the campus with brick buildings from August until December. University President Steve Perez spent the morning greeting new students and guiding them to their classes.
With increased enrollment and high spirits, Perez expressed particular excitement about witnessing new Wildcats, such as Sieker, start their college experience.
You see all these first-year students and new transfer students wandering around, searching for their place, their rooms, and their friends — and they display a noticeable level of anxiety,” Perez said. “What’s good for me is that I’m confident they will find those friends, they will find those rooms, and they will discover their community. That’s what Chico State is all about.
Chico State is experiencing a consistent rise in enrollment after a period of decreasing student numbers. The total headcount for the entire academic year last year was 15,377, with 13,575 students enrolled full-time. Although the estimated headcount for the fall semester is 14,885, this figure is anticipated to increase as the year moves into the spring semester.
The estimated count of full-time students enrolled in the fall is 13,828, representing an increase of 253 students compared to the prior year. Perez noted that full-time enrollments hold significant importance for the institution for several reasons, partly because of state financial support. Every year, the California State University System establishes a full-time enrollment goal for each Cal State campus.
The objective for Chico State’s CSU this academic year is to have 14,640 full-time students enrolled.
We are under our goal,” Perez stated, “but we’re moving nearer to it. Each year, we’re making progress toward it.
Joining the Wildcat community, the school also recruited 14 new teachers before the fall semester, according to Chico State public relations director Andrew Staples.
Approach
Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management Serge Desir outlined several methods the institution used to boost enrollment: adjusting the admissions office, eliminating “impaction” for most programs, establishing a pathway to ensure enrollment for students from nearby community colleges, and implementing a comparable initiative to secure admission for eligible students at 15 local high schools.
Adjusting the admissions office significantly benefited transfer students by enabling them to submit self-reported information during their application, rather than waiting to send official transcripts, according to Desir. Self-reporting transcripts is standard for high school applicants, so this change also established “parity” among applicants, he noted.
“If they have a solid high school record and are performing well at the community college, why limit their inclusion in our community?” asked Desir hypothetically.
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Damien Crockett, on the left, seeks guidance from special assistant to the president Lori Miller on the first day of the fall semester at Chico State in Chico, California, on Monday, August 25, 2025. (Molly Myers/Enterprise-Record)
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April Anguiano receives guidance from Chico State President Steve Perez on the first day of the fall semester at Chico State in Chico, California, on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Molly Myers/Enterprise-Record)
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Mike Risse and Roland Otterness head to class on the first day of the fall semester at Chico State in Chico, California, on Monday, August 25, 2025. (Molly Myers/Enterprise-Record)
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Damien Crockett, on the left, seeks guidance from special assistant to the president Lori Miller on the first day of the fall semester at Chico State in Chico, California, on Monday, August 25, 2025. (Molly Myers/Enterprise-Record)
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In the last three years, Desir mentioned that transfer enrollments have risen considerably. He pointed out that overall applications have increased, but even more so for transfer students.
The second method Desir mentioned that the school enhanced enrollment was by altering its designation from an “impacted” campus to an unimpacted one. He clarified that impacted campuses experience such significant enrollment that they cannot accept “lower division students,” which are usually community college students who haven’t yet completed 60 credits or obtained an associate’s degree. With the change in status, Chico State is now able to enroll these students.
Perez mentioned that there are still two affected major programs at Chico State: nursing and recording arts.
That simply indicates we don’t have sufficient capacity to meet the demand,” Perez stated. “… We’re making an effort, but every nursing program I’ve encountered is affected.
Talking about enrollment, Desir mentioned retention — keeping students enrolled each year until they complete their studies — is a “critical” aspect. He stated that retention rates are “on the rise.”
Enhancing student retention is crucial, allowing the university to “fulfill the commitment of ‘If you begin here, you will complete your studies here,'” said Perez.
We provide a unique experience here that isn’t suitable for everyone,” said Perez when talking about the school’s advertising. “If you’re searching for an urban institution, we don’t fit that. However, if you’re looking for a location with a fantastic college town and an exceptional college experience, we are.
That special opportunity is precisely what motivated Sieker, hailing from Los Angeles, to pursue studies at Chico State.
“I really enjoy the area, and as someone from a large city, I thought it would be nice to experience a change by moving to a smaller town,” she said.
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