HSU Admissions Director Scott Hagg says this increase in enrollment bodes well for the campus' future.
"We are creating a greater number of positive experiences for our students to go back to their hometowns and share. The good word-of-mouth advertisement we get will help recruit more students for the next year," Hagg said.
The current full-time equivalent student (FTES) count is 7,223, up from 7,189 in 2007. Total FTES represent what academic departments and faculty use to calculate such factors as teaching loads.
Due to issues with the state's budget, Humboldt State is not being held to enrollment targets this year as set by the California State University system. However, Hagg stresses that is important for the campus to keep meeting its target each semester. "This arrangement is only possible because of the current budget situation in the state. The economy will eventually improve and at that time it will be expected that we meet our enrollment target," Hagg said.
"We will not know if we reach our enrollment target until spring term census. Our goal of 7,034 is an annual target (fall, spring, and half of summer FTES). It is possible for us to reach our funded enrollment if new student enrollment is healthy," said Hagg.
Exchange Program is Boost for HSU and Students
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program continues to strengthen Humboldt State's enrollment. The number of new out-of-state freshmen and transfer students remains roughly steady this year with 238 students participating in the program, compared to 244 last year.
The WUE is a partnership between 14 western states that enables students to enroll at a university in another state for 150 percent of in-state fees—a big savings over out-of-state tuition. Owing to California's low fees, 150 percent is still less than in-state fees in a number of counterparts.
Since the program began in 2006, Humboldt State University has become a magnet school for students in the WUE program, with Hawaii, Alaska and Oregon sending the most students to HSU.
With the exception of the nursing program, students who participate in the program can choose to participate in any of Humboldt State's academic program.
Hagg says the WUE program attracts a significant number of qualified students.
"These students are highly academic. They usually come here with a specific goal in mind and are often interested in the sciences at Humboldt. In addition to that, they add a geographic diversity to the student population," said Hagg.
Lisa Montalvo, a student from Washington state majoring in Art and International Studies at HSU, first heard about the program on HSU’s Web site when she was still applying to colleges. “I had heard good things (about HSU), a lot of my friends said they wanted to go here, but none had actually done anything about it. When I was really little, like 5,6 or 7, I saw a lot of Humboldt State University stickers on the back of Volvos and Volkswagen Bugs and liked the way it looked; so collegiate. I was smitten,” Montalvo says.
“The fees are very comparable, if not cheaper,” Montalvo adds. “To go to Western Washington, the university in my home town, Bellingham, it’s at least $20,000 a year and that’s just tuition. HSU is very affordable.”