As part of President Dr. Joseph I. Castro’s update for the fall 2020 semester, he announced that the university anticipates the largest incoming class and overall student population in Fresno State’s 110-year history.

The university boasts that while many colleges and universities nationwide are facing drops in enrollment as a result of the current pandemic, its efforts to engage with incoming and returning students over the summer has paid off.

Fresno State states that nearly 3,700 freshmen and 2,800 transfer students will start their first semester this fall. And of those incoming students, 67 percent of them will be first generation students.

Also, more than 90 percent of the continuing undergraduate students have registered for the fall, and are in line with retention rates of the past decade. The total number of enrollment will be near 25,000.

The initial numbers indicate what the university anticipates, but the final enrollment number will not be finalized until the campus census is in early fall.

“For generations, Fresno State has provided families throughout our region and beyond with a high-quality education at an affordable cost,” said President Joseph I. Castro. “I am gratified to see that our talented students are continuing to pursue their educational goals with boldness, optimism and determination, much-needed qualities needed in our leaders.”

Castro’s eyes welled up with tears when talking about the high incoming enrollment and the efforts of families and students.

“I think the bigger story is the resilience of our students and families, the fact that during this pandemic they would lean into their education, right now is a powerful thing,” Castro said. “…6,500 new freshmen and transfer students have chosen to get an education during the pandemic because they know that their future will be brighter.”