Some California universities seeing decline in enrollment: Here's why

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco State, with its 144 acres of land, evokes a sense of serenity. But this university has never stood inactive in times of change.

In the 1960s, students challenged the status quo, leading to the creation of the country's first College of Ethnic Studies. Even today, SF State holds firmly onto its legacy of activism. Students have different reasons to enroll here.

"Campus itself has many amenities, from the large gymnasium to the very large library next to us. The student center offers many different clubs and organizations that you are a part of, and I think all of that, in combination, just accumulated something that was nice to go to," said student Lucas Ribero.

Despite its history and enticing campus, San Francisco State has seen its enrollment numbers decline.

In 2015, it had 30,256 students. In 2024, nine years later, the university reported 22,357 students enrolled, a decline of 26%. This academic year, 2025, SF State saw about 1,600 fewer students.

MORE: Sonoma State University enrollment takes a hit amid massive budget cuts

So, what gives?

"The biggest factor is the demographic decline, especially in the Bay Area. Other factors are increased competition within the Cal State universities and also the UC system, where policies have shifted and changed over time that the UCs are actually admitting more students that had typically gone to Cal State University institutions," said Katie Lynch, senior associate vice president for Enrollment Management at SF State.

San Francisco's expensive rental market is another reason for the dip in enrollment.

"I think if living conditions were a little more easier -- not as expensive -- you would have a lot more students on campus. You would have a lot more lively people here," Ribero said.

It's not only SF State that is seeing this decline. Cal State East Bay has lost 30% of its student body since 2015.

MORE: UC Board of Regents approves tuition hike for new students

Of its 23 campuses, Sonoma State has seen the greatest decline, 39%, due in part to its decision to cut its athletic program and get rid of 22 degree programs.

Sergio Rivera has seen firsthand the exodus of students at Sonoma State.

"When I was a freshman, a lot of the people I knew on campus were a bunch of athletes. Since the cut of the athletic department, a bunch of the students were forced to transfer out or move away, basically," Rivera said.

The state's K-12 schools are meant to feed these universities, but fewer children are being born, leading to declining enrollment.

Take 2025. Right now, there are just over five million K-12 students in the state. By 2045, that number is expected to go down to just over 4.9 million. That would be a loss of more than 800,000 students over 20 years.

MORE: Hundreds of thousands of CA college students brace for loss of food benefits

SF State now has a partnership with the San Francisco Unified School District, guaranteeing admission to those who are eligible before students even apply.

There are other strategies in the works.

"Certain techniques of using social media, digital marketing strategies, having actual marketing campaigns, commercial TV ads, bus ads," Lynch said.

San Jose State, on the other hand, has not experienced a decline. In fact, from 2024 to 2025, its enrollment numbers went up by 7%.

"I would say academic innovation that is happening here at San Jose State. We are laser-focused on the experience of our students, both in and out of the classroom," said Andrew Wright, senior associate vice president of Enrollment Management for San Jose State.

MORE: Sonoma State to cut entire athletics program, degrees and more to address nearly $24M budget deficit

Its proximity to the heart of Silicon Valley offers students the chance to work closely with tech companies.

San Jose State also started admitting students early in December, ahead of the competition.

"What that does is it takes the pressure out of the application process. When a student is looking at all of the options available, nobody wants to be told no. But if they know that the 'no' isn't even on the table, they're like 'Well, why wouldn't I go there?' Wright said.

They all agree that only institutions with a strong pipeline of potential students will be able to solve the declining enrollment dilemma.