California's universities will cost 40 percent more this fall, and now comes more bad news: Qualified students may be unable to attend in the spring.

California State University officials have announced that, because of crowding and underfunding, the majority of their 23 campuses are closing to new students in the spring.

And for the first time, University of California officials are talking about closing their doors to new students next year, the 2004-05 academic term.

Even the historically accessible California Community College system will allow enrollment caps. So far, spokesman Aiden Ely said, no campus has been closed to new students, but the majority have cut class offerings.

"There are limits in any system," said Ely.

The enrollment cuts and fee increases come in a tough economic time, when studies show that more people flock to higher education. Last year, California's public system had record enrollments – as well as record budget cuts.

Limiting midyear admissions has a far greater effect on the CSU system, which in recent years has taken as many as 30,000 new students systemwide in the spring, both first-time freshmen and transfer students.

San Diego State University, one of the largest campuses in the 410,000-student system, is one of nine CSU campuses limiting or cutting off spring enrollment.

In November, officials began alerting area high schools and community colleges that they were cutting off spring enrollment.

Cal State San Marcos and two other CSU campuses are taking applications from some transfer students for the spring semester, but only those with at least two years of transferable college credits. San Marcos is allowing limited spring enrollment for new students, but all are being warned that they may not get in if there is no room.

At the UC system, officials announced they are considering freezing 2004-05 enrollments because of state budget projections. State legislators have warned both the CSU and UC systems that they would not fund any more growth for the next academic year.