by Caleb Pedican Jr, Undergraduate Communications Specialist
IRP&E is pleased to announce an improved version of the Freshman Profile interactive report in our catalog. The report now has improved visuals showing completed applications, admission rates and yield rates over time. We explore these improved visuals below.
Applications and Yield Rates
As seen in Figure 1, there has been a noticeable and consistent increase in the number of first-time students applying to CSU. When comparing the number of applicants between Fall 2010 and Fall 2024, the number of applications increased from 14,629 to 38,520, or 23,900 students (163.4%).
Figure 1
On average, about 80% of applicants are accepted, with the highest acceptance rate in Fall 2022 at 90.8% and the lowest in Fall 2012 at 74.6%. Despite the noticeable increase of completed applications and the 80% acceptance rate, there is a slight decrease from Fall 2010 to Fall 2024 in the number of students that enroll/Yield Rates for First-Time Students (see Figure 2 below).
Figure 2
Figure 2 shows a steady decline in the yield rate from FA10 to FA24. Despite this lower yield class size has not decreased because the number of admitted students has increased. In recent years, the yield rates have remained stable at about 16%.
Standardized Test Scores
Tables 1 and 2 show the total number of students admitted and the number submitting ACT and SAT scores. Figure 3 displays the share of admitted students providing these scores as part of their application. After the COVID-19 pandemic, many colleges, including CSU, made SAT and ACT scores optional for admissions. Then in 2021, CSU officially went test optional, meaning ACT and SAT were not required as part of the application process.
Table 1. SAT Composite Scores for All Admitted Students by Year
Table 2. ACT Composite Scores for All Admitted Students by Year
Figure 3. Percent of Admitted Students Providing ACT or SAT Composite Scores
