SANTA CRUZ -- UC Santa Cruz has received letters of intent to register from the highest number of freshmen from non-Asian minority groups in the university's 44-year history, as well as the highest number of community college transfers in at least a decade, according to figures released Wednesday.

UCSC reported receiving statements from 4,573 freshmen, a roughly 10 percent increase over the 4,143 from last year, who indicated they intend to register for classes in the fall quarter. The campus also admitted 3,275 transfer students from community colleges throughout California, an increase of 204 from last year.

Michael McCawley, acting admissions director, called the high number of freshmen and transfer students a clear indication "our popularity is growing." He attributed a purposeful public outreach effort by the chancellor, other university officials and students about the variety of academic programs.

McCawley said he does not expect enrollment to exceed 3,850 freshman and 950 transfer students because many students often later decide to attend elsewhere or postpone registration for financial reasons. Additionally, UCSC has elected to hold enrollment to last year's numbers due to the uncertain state budget outlook, which could result in more than $7 million in cuts to the campus.

Of the incoming freshmen, 23.9 percent identified themselves on application documents as American Indian, African-American and Chicano-Latino -- an increase of 1½ percent over last year. Another 1,120 of the students, or 24.5 percent, who filed intent to register statements with UCSC are Asian-Americans.

"We're so pleased that we are seeing this kind of success, but it's not the kind of success that means you rest on your laurels," he said of the diversity statistics. "It's so important to continue outreach."

The outgoing commissioner of diversity for the Student Union Assembly, Solymar Sola-Negron, said she was happy to hear the number of underrepresented minorities is growing, but said there is still much work to be done with retention. She said the growing cost of a UC education, including a 7 percent tuition hike recently approved by UC Regents, will make it harder for minorities from poor families to actually stay.

The figures not do not indicate that "we're reaching some form of racial equality and we're having better access to underrepresented groups," she said. "Yeah, there is a larger amount, but how many of those students are coming from a low-income background or further underrepresented group?"