Cal Poly Pomona’s total student enrollment is projected to reach a record high of 24,011 this fall quarter, propelled by coveted programs that offer a learn-by-doing approach and real-world experiences.

Since 2010, enrollment has grown by approximately 16 percent and applications have jumped a whopping 41 percent, rising from 34,161 to 48,094 applications for fall 2015.

“Students are attracted by the quality of academics and the learn-by-doing approach,” says Kathy Street, associate vice president for enrollment services. “Cal Poly Pomona offers unique majors and programs that are not offered at other CSUs and we are seeing increasing enrollment from Central and Northern California as a result. We have a good reputation and affordable tuition.”

High rankings in U.S. News & World Report and other national college guides reflect the university’s stature as a top-tier destination, attracting students from local communities and from across the globe. The campus continues to be a bastion for first-generation college students, underrepresented students and military veterans.

The College of Engineering, College of Business Administration and College of Science enroll the highest number of students. One out of every 14 engineers in California is a Cal Poly Pomona graduate. The College of Business Administration’s graduate program was honored again by the Princeton Review, earning a spot in the company’s “Best 296 Business Schools: 2015 Edition.” The College of Science offers the first biotechnology major in the 23-campus California State University system.

To ensure that students who enroll receive a quality education, the campus has impacted some academic programs to accommodate the growing student demand while using existing university resources, Street says.

Impacted majors receive more applicants than the university can accommodate, and applicants must meet additional criteria to be considered for admission. To underscore that demand, there are more than two dozen impacted majors, ranging from architecture, music industry studies to animal science and a slew of engineering disciplines.

The growth in enrollment also has affected the need housing space and parking capacity. Three housing communities provide 3,700 units for students, and an estimated 1,600 freshmen will live in campus housing in the fall. Freshmen are required to live on campus if they graduated from a school outside of the local service area. Construction of a new parking structure has started in Lot K and is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. An overflow lot adjacent to Innovation Village has been created to provide temporary relief.

In addition, Street cited factors such as the beauty of the campus, its Southern California locale and student diversity as helping to make Cal Poly Pomona a “destination campus.”

“Our academic programs are in high demand,” says Street. “Our students have several opportunities to become engaged in our campus community and to gain valuable experience inside and outside the classroom, making them very attractive to future employers.”