Cal Poly’s student body continues to grow more diverse. What the 2022 numbers show

Cal Poly has welcomed its most diverse class of students for the fifth year in a row.

The announcement by the university in a news release earlier this month cited continuous work for the increased diversity – though recognized that “we still have more work to do.”

The 2022 incoming class includes 51.4% who are women, 27.4% students from underrepresented communities, 24.5% Hispanic/Latino students, 14.3% Asian students, 16.6% first-generation college students and 20% of students from partner schools.

These demographics include the “highest-ever percentages of women; students from partner high schools; first-generation students; Asian students; and Hispanic/Latino students,” communications specialist Keegan Koberl wrote in the release.

Last year’s enrollment included 50.5% women, 19.8% Hispanic/Latino and 15% Asian students. Enrollment of Hispanic/Latino students is the highest it has been in the past five years, though enrollment of Asian students has decreased 0.7% from the incoming 2021 class.

In addition, the incoming class is the second largest with roughly 5,100 first-time first-year students enrolled from more than 68,000 applicants, according to the release.

Cal Poly increased its College-Based Fee in February “to help fund financial aid and scholarships for lower-income students and to fund the university’s academic mission,” Koberl wrote. “The full fee increase is being phased in over four years, with increased funding being generated each year for financial aid.”

For incoming first-time freshmen living on campus, the estimated total cost to attend Cal Poly for the 2022-23 academic year is $30,621, according to the Cal Poly Financial Aid website. This year, Cal Poly gave “significant financial aid” to accepted applicants with an expected family contribution of “up to $12,000.”

The university has not released all of its demographic information, but it will be available in December, Koberl wrote in an email to The Tribune after a request for this year’s enrollment data.

Historically, Cal Poly has been a predominantly white institution, with students of color feeling their experience negatively differs from white students, previous research has shown.

Although Cal Poly welcomed its most diverse class, it is one of two universities in the Cal State system that are not recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. An HSI has enrollment of at least 25% Hispanic students, as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. The Latinx Center, known as La CASA was opened earlier this month to provide a cultural center for Latinx students.

In 2020, Cal Poly was deemed an Asian American, Native American and Pacific Islander-serving institution. This recognition has meant that Cal Poly is able to receive specific funding for serving minority institutions, a September 2020 news release said.

Cal Poly is working toward becoming an HSI and has created a “Pathway to HSI Taskforce” with students and faculty members invoked, according to this month’s release on diversity.

This story was originally published November 21, 2022 at 9:00 AM.