OAKLAND (KCBS) — It’s estimated that non-resident students—from both foreign countries and other states in the U.S.—will make up one-fifth of all freshmen entering University of California campuses this fall, and efforts to increase that number are underway.

According to a report in the Sacramento Bee, an increase in international and out-of-state recruitment started during the recession, when UC was undergoing major budget cuts, and has continued despite the improving economy. According to the paper, representatives from U.C. Davis made 20 trips to china to encourage admitted students to enroll at the school.

UC officials claim that these non-California students increase campus diversity, bring in millions of dollars in tuition that subsidize more spots for in-state students.

“What’s really important to note here, though, is one of the things nonresident enrollment enabled our campuses to do is to maintain their California enrollment,” Walter Robinson, who directs undergraduate admissions at UC Davis, said.

Applications to the UC system from out-of-state and international students have more than doubled since 2011 and last year, nonresident fees generated an estimated $400 million from undergraduates. Berkeley and UCLA each brought in more than $100 million.

Critics, however, like Marguerite Roza, a researcher at the Center on Reinventing Public Education in Washington, D.C., told the Sacramento Bee that the policy means more Californians are being turned away from the UC system, as they become less of a priority.

“If their objective is to maximize the number of in-state students that they want to serve, then there are alternatives they should be considering,” she said.

Recruiting efforts mostly focus on east Asia with China, according to the report, being the prime target for universities looking international students.