CSU graduates record number of students

The number of students graduating from the California State University schools is at an all-time high according to a new report, CSU officials announced Monday.

For the third consecutive year, the number of students who have earned degrees from CSU campuses has increased, CSU officials said.

Based on statistical data, the report found that the CSU system graduated 105,693 students during the last academic year.

The number increased by two percent from the previous 2013-2014 academic year, in which 103,781 students graduated, CSU officials said.

That number rose by four percent from the 2012-2013 academic year, in which 101,209 students graduated, according to CSU officials.

CSU executive vice chancellor of academic and student affairs Loren Blanchard said in a statement:

“As California’s greatest source of bachelor’s degrees, it is critical for the CSU to prepare an increasing number of knowledgeable and strongly skilled graduates who are ready to meet the state’s current and future workforce needs.”

CSU officials credit the increase in graduates to the Graduation Initiative, a program created in 2009.

The program successfully raised the system wide freshmen six-year graduation rate from 46 percent to about 54 percent, according to CSU officials.

Through the program, CSU officials hope to produce 100,000 more degrees by 2025 by increasing the system wide freshmen six-year graduation rate to 60 percent, the graduation rate for transfer students to 76 percent and by closing the achievement gap for low-income and underserved students, CSU officials said.