2017 Fact Book

82 Historical Highlights of Enrollment S tudent enrollment has grown rapidly since the first class enrolled in 1967. The university grew from a small graduate institution serving 17 Ph.D. students studying oceanography, physical science, and science education to a major university with more than 21,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees in a wide variety of fields in fall 2016. Historically, the fastest rate of growth was during the university’s first decade of existence, when student enrollments reached more than 8,000. Between 1972 and 1973, enrollments almost tripled, increasing from 571 to 1,483 after the addition of distance education programs in educational leadership and higher education, as well as an M.B.A. program and a Ph.D. program in clinical psychology. During the next decade, enrollments leveled off, and then once again began to rise. Over the last 5 years, enrollment has fluctuated between 21,000 and 27,000 (Figure 1 and Table 1). Table 1 Change in Fall Enrollment Student Enrollment Enrollment by Degree Level Total Annual Year Undergraduate Graduate First-Professional Enrollment Change 2016 4,295 13,615 3,715 21,625 -7% 2015 4,641 14,871 3,724 23,236 -4% 2014 4,699 15,667 3,782 24,148 -6% 2013 5,156 16,635 3,879 25,670 -4% 2012 5,739 17,120 3,949 26,808 -6% 2011 6,397 18,135 3,925 28,457 -1% 2010 6,174 18,619 3,948 28,741 -1% 2009 5,868 19,322 3,964 29,154 3% 2008 5,757 19,000 3,621 28,378 3% 2007 5,635 18,387 3,496 27,518 6% Source: IPEDS Enrollment Survey 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 F1967 F1969 F1971 F1973 F1975 F1977 F1979 F1981 F1983 F1985 F1987 F1989 F1991 F1993 F1995 F1997 F1999 F2001 F2003 F2005 F2007 F2009 F2011 F2013 F2014 F2015 Figure 1 Unduplicated Headcount Enrollment Fall Term 1967 to Fall Term 2015