The state budget crunch is blamed for 1,711 fewer students enrolling at California State University, Fullerton, this spring, compared with last fall's all-time high of 32,592.

The campus saw seven straight semesters of record growth until a year ago, when the first round of budget cuts caused a slight dip, spokeswoman Paula Selleck said.

California State University presidents were ordered to cut enrollment for spring semester to cope with $304 million in budget cuts. CSU has been told to expect no enrollment growth for the next fall semester.

State officials are telling students who can't gain admission to CSU or University of California campuses this fall to go to community colleges and transfer later.