Fresno Campus: Project Evolve
Enrollment Update
The Fresno branch campus is currently accepting new students for the Summer 2026 start in the Clinical Psychology PhD and PsyD programs.
Following the Summer 2026 start, Fresno will no longer enroll new students. The campus will continue operating through at least 2031, ensuring that all currently enrolled and Summer 2026 students can complete their academic programs with academic and student services support.
Students starting in Summer 2026 are an important part of the Fresno campus community. We have carefully aligned this enrollment timeline so that students entering in 2026 will be able to complete their programs in Fresno with continuity, faculty mentorship, and the full academic and clinical support they expect. Choosing to begin in Summer 2026 means joining a focused and supported cohort, with continuity and support from start to graduation.
All academic resources, faculty expertise, clinical training partnerships, and student services at the Fresno campus will remain in place to support Summer 2026 students throughout their programs. The structure of the campus timeline was intentionally designed to provide stability from the first day of enrollment through degree completion.
The long-term changes at the Fresno branch campus rolling out over the next five years are specific to this location. The main San Diego campus and the larger branch campus in Los Angeles, plus locations in Sacramento and Phoenix, have no changes or planned changes.
If you have questions about your specific circumstances or about Project Evolve more broadly, please reach out to ask@alliant.edu and we will connect you with the appropriate support team.
Campus Overview
As part of Project Evolve and Alliant’s long-term strategic planning, the University has made the decision not to renew the long-term lease for the Fresno branch campus when it expires in 2031, and the lease will be extended as needed on a short-term basis to accommodate the academic program completion dates for all students.
This is not an immediate campus closure. Fresno will continue to operate through the end of its lease term, and all active students will complete their programs at the campus with continued access to faculty, advising, and student services. The branch campus lease may be extended on a short-term basis to accommodate the completion of academic programs for enrolled students.
This decision reflects long-term strategic alignment with federal student loan changes and evolving student demand patterns towards hybrid/online learning and larger campus sites in major cities.
Why This Decision Was Made
Several structural factors influenced this decision:
- Enrollment density has remained below sustainable levels for a small physical campus in Alliant’s smallest metro market
- Limited program offerings reduce flexibility to adapt to market shifts.
- Regional demand has increasingly shifted toward online and hybrid formats.
- Fixed operational costs and commitments to long-term leases through 2040 are difficult to justify under new federal funding constraints.
Key Data Points
- Federal funding policy changes are estimated to impact up to 30% of students, increasing enrollment pressure across smaller campuses.
Under new federal Stafford loan caps and the elimination of Grad PLUS for many future students, smaller branch campuses face heightened sustainability challenges nationwide.
Student Support and Continuity
- All currently enrolled students will complete their program in Fresno.
- Academic advising, faculty support, and student services will continue as usual.
- Students also retain access to expanded online, hybrid, and larger regional campus options if desired.
Faculty and Staff
- Faculty contracts will be honored as written.
- Leadership will work with Fresno faculty to ensure appropriate contract extensions to support all enrolled students through program completion.
- Staffing transitions will align with enrollment timelines and lease expiration.
Long-Term Alignment
Project Evolve prioritizes:
- Academic quality
- Long-term financial sustainability
- Alignment with federal loan realities beginning in 2026
- Strategic reinvestment into larger campuses and online/hybrid delivery models
This decision is forward-looking and strategic. It is not an indication of financial distress.