UC enrollment increases amid coronavirus pandemic

As students face uncertain futures about online versus in-person learning, the University of California has some good news to share: Enrollment is increasing.

UC saw a 15% increase in applications to the public university’s nine undergraduate campuses since last year, reaching a record 250,000 applicants with significant rises among California Latino and Black freshmen applicants, according to preliminary data shared by UC President Michael V. Drake in a meeting this week with The Los Angeles Times editorial board.

Meanwhile, the California State University system has had a much different experience with enrollment changes amid the pandemic. Across all of the 23 Cal State campuses, applications dropped by 5%, although some individual campuses such as Cal Poly San Louis Obispo saw slight increases.