Welcome to the California State University (CSU) - the nation’s largest comprehensive university system with 23 unique campuses serving approximately 482,000 students and employing more than 53,000 faculty and staff.
Each year, the university awards more than 127,000 degrees. CSU graduates are serving as leaders in the industries that drive California’s economy, including business, agriculture, entertainment, engineering, teaching, hospitality and healthcare. Learn more on the California State University website.
A Tradition of Excellence for More Than Six Decades
Since 1961, the CSU has provided an affordable, accessible and high-quality education to 3.9 million living alumni throughout California. While each campus is unique based on its curricular specialties, location and campus culture, every CSU is distinguished for the quality of its educational programs. All campuses are fully accredited, provide a high-quality broad liberal educational program and offer opportunities for students to engage in campus life through the Associated Students, Inc., clubs and service learning. Through leading-edge programs, superior teaching and extensive workforce training opportunities, CSU students graduate with the critical thinking skills, industry knowledge and hands-on experience necessary for employment and career advancement.
Facts
Today, one of every 20 Americans with a college degree is a CSU graduate.
1 of every 10 employees in California is a CSU graduate.
The CSU awards about half of the bachelor’s degrees earned in California.
The CSU awards 46 percent of California’s undergraduate nursing degrees
The CSU is the leading provider of teacher preparation programs in the state.
In 2019-20, CSU students earned nearly 24,000 business degrees and more than 10,000 engineering degrees.
The CSU offers more than 160 fully online and 150 hybrid degree programs and concentrations.
The CSU offers more than 5,700 online courses per term, providing more educational options to students who may prefer an online format to a traditional classroom setting.
The CSU’s online concurrent enrollment program gives students the ability to enroll in courses offered by other campuses in the CSU.
Over a recent four-year period, the CSU has issued nearly 50,000 professional development certificates in education, health services, business and technology, leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, international trade and many other industries.
CSU Centers for Community Engagement and Service Learning make available nearly 3,200 service learning courses.
More than 64,000 CSU students participated in service-learning, contributing 934 thousand hours of service last year.
CSU Historical Milestones
The individual California State Colleges were established as a system with a Board of Trustees and a chancellor in 1960 by the Donahoe Higher Education Act. In 1972, the system was designated as the California State University and Colleges, and in 1982 the system became the California State University. Today, the CSU is comprised of 23 campuses, including comprehensive and polytechnic universities and, since July 1995, the California State University Maritime Academy, a specialized campus.
The oldest campus-San José State University- was founded in 1857 and became the first institution of public higher education in California. The newest-California State University Channel Islands-opened in fall 2002, with freshmen arriving in fall 2003.
In 1963, the CSU’s Academic Senate was established to act as the official voice of CSU faculty in university wide matters. Also, the California State College Student Presidents Association-which was later renamed the California State Student Association-was founded to represent each campus student association on issues affecting students.
Through its many decades of service, the CSU has continued to adapt to address societal changes, student needs and workforce trends. While the CSU’s core mission has always focused on providing high-quality, affordable bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, over time the university has added a wide range of services and programs to support student success - from adding health centers and special programs for veterans to building student residential facilities to provide a comprehensive educational experience.
To improve degree completion and accommodate students working full- or part-time, the educational paradigm was expanded to give students the ability to complete upper-division and graduate requirements through part-time, late afternoon, and evening study. The university also expanded its programs to include a variety of teaching and school service credential programs, specially designed for working professionals.
In 2010, in an effort to accommodate community college transfer students, the CSU, in concert with the California Community Colleges (CCC), launched the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), which guarantees CCC transfer students with an ADT admission to the CSU with junior status. ADT has since proven to be the most effective path to a CSU for transfer students.
Always adapting to changes in technology and societal trends to support student learning and degree completion, the CSU launched CourseMatch, which enables CSU students to complete online courses at other CSU campuses, expanding enrollment opportunities and providing more educational opportunities for students who may prefer an online format to a traditional classroom setting.
The CSU marked a significant educational milestone when it broadened its degree offerings to include doctoral degrees. The CSU independently offers Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Doctor of Audiology (AuD) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree programs. Additionally, the CSU was recently authorized to offer the independent Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD). A limited number of other doctoral degrees are offered jointly with the University of California and private institutions in California.
The CSU strives to continually develop innovative programs, services and opportunities that will give students the tools they need to meet their full potential. In 2016, the university launched Graduation Initiative 2025, a bold plan to support students, increase the number of California’s graduates earning high-quality degrees and eliminate achievement and equity gaps for all students. Through this initiative, the CSU is ensuring that all students have the opportunity to graduate according to their personal goals, positively impacting their lives, families and communities.
By providing an accessible, hands-on education that prepares graduates for career success, the CSU has created a network of alumni that is so extensive and renowned that it spans across the globe. As of 2020-21, more than 3.9 million CSU alumni are making a difference in the lives of the people of California and the world.
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CSU Funding
Average Support Cost Per Full-Time Equivalent Student and Sources of Funds
The total support cost per full-time equivalent student (FTES) includes the expenditures for current operations, including payments made to students in the form of financial aid, and all fully reimbursed programs contained in state appropriations. The average support cost is determined by dividing the total cost by the number of FTES. The total CSU 2020/21 budget amounts were $3,722,806,000 from state General Fund (GF) appropriations, before a $42.7 million CalPERS retirement adjustment, $2,626,783,000 from gross tuition revenue, and $612,221,000 from other fee revenues for a total of $6,961,810,000. The 2020/21 resident FTES target is 374,131 and the nonresident FTES based on past-year actual is 22,154 for a total of 396,285 FTES. The GF appropriation is applicable to resident students only whereas fee revenues are collected from resident and nonresident students. FTES is determined by dividing the total academic student load (e.g. 15 units per semester) (the figure used here to define a full-time student’s academic load).
The 2020/21 average support cost per FTES based on GF appropriation and net tuition fee revenue only is $16,235 and when including all three sources as indicated below is $17,780, which includes all fee revenue (e.g. tuition fees, application fees, and other campus mandatory fees) in the CSU Operating Fund. Of this amount, the average net tuition and other fee revenue per FTES is $7,826.
The average CSU 2020/21 academic year, resident, undergraduate student basic tuition and other mandatory fees required to apply to, enroll in, or attend the university is $7,363 ($5,742 tuition fee plus $1,621 average campus-based fees). However, the costs paid by individual students will vary depending on campus, program, and whether a student is part-time, full-time, resident, or nonresident.
2020/21 State Appropriation 1
Amount: 3,722, 806,000
Average Cost per FTES: 9,951
Percentage: 55.0%
1 Represents state GF appropriation in the Budget Act of 2020/21. GF is divisible by resident students only (374,131 FTES)
2020/21 Gross Tuition Revenue 2
Amount: 2,626,783,000
Average Cost per FTES: 6,629
Percentage: 36.5%
Other Fees Revenue 2
Amount: 612,221,000
Average Cost per FTES: 1,545
Percentage: 8.5%
2 Represents CSU Operating Fund, gross tuition and other fees revenue amounts submitted in campus August 2020/21 final budgets. Revenues are divisible by resident and nonresident students (396,285 FTES)
Total Support Cost
Amount: 6,961,810,000
Average Cost per FTES: 18,125
Percentage: 100%
Governance
The CSU is governed by the Board of Trustees, most of whom are appointed by the governor and serve with faculty and student representatives. The CSU chancellor is the chief executive officer, reporting to the board. The campus presidents serve as the campus-level chief executive officers. The trustees, chancellor and presidents develop university-wide educational policy. The presidents, in consultation with the CSU Academic Senate and other campus stakeholder groups, render and implement local policy decisions.
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Trustees of the CSU Ex Officio Trustees
The Honorable Gavin Newsom, Governor of California
The Honorable Eleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor of California
The Honorable Anthony Rendon, Speaker of the Assembly
The Honorable Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Dr. Joseph Castro, Chancellor of The California State University
Officers of the Trustees
The Honorable Gavin Newsom - President
Lillian Kimbell, Chair
Wenda Fong, Vice Chair
Andrew Jones, Secretary
Steve Relyea, Treasurer
Appointed Trustees
Appointments are for a term of eight years, except student, alumni, and faculty trustees, whose terms are for two years. Terms expire in the year in parentheses. Names are listed alphabetically.
Silas Abrego (2021)
Larry L. Adamson (2022)
Diego Arambula (2028)
Jane W. Carney (2022)
Jack B. Clark Jr. (2027)
Adam Day (2023)
Douglas Faigin (2025)
Debra S. Farar (2022)
Jean P. Firstenberg (2026)
Wenda Fong (2024)
Maryana Khames (2021)
Lillian Kimbell (2024)
Jack McGory (2023)
Anna Ortiz-Morfit (2025)
Krystal Raynes (2022)
Romey Sabalius (2021)
Lateefah Simon (2027)
Christopher Steinhauser (2026)
Peter J. Taylor (2021)
Correspondence with trustees should be sent to:
c/o Trustees Secretariat
The California State University
401 Golden Shore, Suite 136
Long Beach, CA 90802-4210
Office of the Chancellor
The California State University
401 Golden Shore
Long Beach, CA 90802-4210
562-951-4000
Joseph I. Castro, Chancellor
Steve Relyea, Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer
Fred E. Wood, Interim Executive Vice Chancellor Academic and Student Affairs
Andrew Jones, Executive Vice Chancellor, General Counsel
Garrett P. Ashley, Vice Chancellor, University Relations and Advancement
Evelyn Nazario, Vice Chancellor, Human Resources
Vlad Marinescu, Vice Chancellor and Chief Audit Officer
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Campus Map & Information on the 23 CSU Campuses
Visit the California State University at calstate.edu. The phone number listed for each campus is for the Office of Admissions.
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CSU Campuses
California State University, Bakersfield
9001 Stockdale Highway
Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022
Lynnette Zelezny, President
661-654-2782
CSU Bakersfield website
California State University, Channel Islands
One University Drive
Camarillo, CA 93012
Richard Yao*, President
805-437-8400
CSU Channel Islands website
California State University, Chico
400 West First Street
Chico, CA 95929
Gayle E. Hutchinson, President
530-898-4636
Chico State website
California State University, Dominguez Hills
1000 East Victoria Street
Carson, CA 90747
Thomas A. Parham, President
310-243-3696
CSU Dominguez Hills website
California State University, East Bay
25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard
Hayward, CA 94542
Cathy A. Sandeen, President
510-885-3000
Cal State East Bay website
California State University, Fresno
5241 North Maple Avenue
Fresno, CA 93740
Saúl Jimémez-Sandoval, President
559-278-4240
CSU Fresno website
California State University, Fullerton
800 N. State College Boulevard
Fullerton, CA 92831-3599
Framroza Virjee, President
657-278-2011
Cal State Fullerton website
Humboldt State University
1 Harpst Street
Arcata, CA 95521-8299
Tom Jackson, Jr., President
707-826-3011
Humboldt State website
California State University, Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90840-0115
Jane Close Conoley, President
562-985-4111
Cal State Long Beach website
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032
William A. Covino, President
323-343-3000
Cal State LA website
California Maritime Academy
200 Maritime Academy Drive
Vallejo, CA 94590
Rear Admiral Thomas A. Cropper, President
707-654-1000
Cal Maritime website
California State University, Monterey Bay
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA 93955-8001
Eduardo M. Ochoa, President
831-582-3000
CSU Monterey Bay website
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330
Ericka D. Beck, President
818-677-1200
CSUN website
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
3801 W. Temple Avenue
Pomona, CA 91768
Soraya M. Coley, President
909-869-7659
Cal Poly Pomona website
California State University, Sacramento
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819
Robert S. Nelsen, President
916-278-6011
Sacramento State website
California State University, San Bernardino
5500 University Parkway
San Bernardino, CA 92407-2318
Tomás D. Morales, President
909-537-5000
Cal State San Bernardino website
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182
Adela de la Torre, President
619-594-5200
San Diego State website
San Francisco State University
1600 Holloway Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132
Lynn Mahoney, President
415-338-1111
San Francisco State website
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0001
Mary A. Papazian, President
408-924-1000
San José State website
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
One Grand Avenue
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
Jeffrey D. Armstrong, President
805-756-1111
Cal Poly , San Luis Obispo website
California State University, San Marcos
333 South Twin Oaks Valley Road
San Marcos, CA 92096-0001
Ellen J. Neufeldt, President
760-750-4000
CSU San Marcos website
Sonoma State University
1801 East Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Judy K. Sakaki, President
707-664-2880
Sonoma State website
California State University, Stanislaus
One University Circle
Turlock, CA 95382
Ellen N. Junn, President
209-667-3122
Stanislaus State website
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