UC IRVINE — University of California campuses received fewer applications from high school students for fall 2004 than last year, the first time the system has seen a drop in 10 years.

Freshman applications systemwide dropped by 4.1% and dropped by 1.4% at UC Irvine, according to a report released by UC officials on Tuesday. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed state budget calls for UC campuses to cut freshman enrollment by 10% — a task made easier with a smaller pool of applicants.

"We never welcome a decrease in applications," UC spokesman Hanan Eisenman said. "But given that we're being asked to decrease freshman enrollment by 3,200 students next year, a slight reduction [in applications] may ease pressure on the system."

Schwarzenegger's budget also requires UC schools to increase fees by 10% for undergraduate and 40% for graduate students. That comes on top of other recent increases.

Overall, UC campuses saw 1.3% fewer applications than last year — a 3.8% drop since fall 2002. International students had the biggest drop at 37.5% overall, 56% for transfer students.

After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the government tightened requirements on student visas, which may have contributed to fewer international applications, Eisenman said.

"We believe the decrease [in applications] may be tied to modest growth in graduating high school students this year at less than 1% and UC fee increases due to state budget cuts," Eisenman said. "Another factor is the new federal immigration policies, which make it more difficult for international students."

The total number of transfer students applying, however, increased by 5.7% for all campuses and by 13% for UCI.

Students applying for their freshman year at UCI are also getting smarter. The mean high school grade point average went to 3.64 from 3.61 last year and SAT composite scores increased from 1152 to 1164 out of a possible 1600.

The UC president's office has instructed each campus to set freshman enrollment targets of 400 fewer students this year to meet Schwarzenegger's requirements, Eisenman said.

Those who meet eligibility requirements but don't get accepted may be selected to take part in a transfer program, which would guarantee their acceptance after they fulfilled course requirements at a community college, he said. Another program is also planned that would accept eligible students at the Riverside or new Merced campus even if they don't qualify for the transfer program.

Merced, the UC system's 10th school, is scheduled to open in fall 2005.

Orange Coast College's enrollment, on the other hand, increased by 12% this spring, said Nancy Kidder, administrative dean of admissions and records.

"We're seeing a steady increase for the last four years, predominantly in students under 21," she said. "We anticipate an increase through at least 2010."

Because of budget cuts, the school has cut course offerings by about 20%, but demand has not slowed down, Kidder said. She estimates the school turned away 4,000 students last fall because students could not find the courses they needed.