The California State University

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• The California State University
• Trustees of the California State University
• Campuses
• The California State University International Programs

The California State University

The California State University (CSU) is the nation’s largest and most diverse four-year public university. With 22* unique universities, the CSU serves more than 470,000 students and employs more than 61,000 faculty and staff.

Each year, the university awards nearly 123,000 degrees, changing the trajectory of students’ lives by opening doors to opportunities for upward mobility. More than one-quarter of CSU students are the first in their families to attend college and more than half of CSU students are from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.

For one of the most affordable tuitions in the country, students learn from world-class faculty, gain valuable hands-on experiences, and receive strong career advising, empowering them to become leaders in the changing workforce.

CSU graduates are leaders in the industries that drive California’s economy, including business, agriculture, entertainment, engineering, teaching, hospitality, and health care. To learn more, visit 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 millions of Californians. While each university is unique based on its curricular specialties, location and culture, every CSU is distinguished for the quality of its educational programs. All CSUs are fully accredited, provide an outstanding, broad liberal educational program and offer opportunities for students to engage in university life through the Associated Students, Inc., clubs, and service learning.

Facts

• Today, one in every 20 Americans with a college degree is a CSU graduate.
• 1 in every 10 employees in California is a CSU graduate.
• The CSU’s network of more than 4 million alumni is larger than the population of 23 U.S. states.
• The CSU awards nearly half of the bachelor’s degrees earned in California.
• The CSU awards more than one-quarter of California’s baccalaureate nursing degrees.
• In 2024-2025, the CSU prepared more of California’s teachers than any other institution in the state.
• About 4% of the nation’s teachers graduate from the CSU.
• In 2024-25, CSU students earned nearly 18,000 undergraduate business degrees and more than 6,300 engineering degrees.
• The CSU offers more than 4,000 degree programs that align with the state’s workforce demands.
• The CSU’s online concurrent enrollment program gives students the ability to enroll in courses offered by other universities in the CSU system.
• Through CSU community engagement centers, over 67,000 students participated in service-learning, contributing more than 1.5 million hours of service in each year.

*Transition to 22 universities in progress (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal Maritime integrating)- official fall 2026. 

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 presidents serve as the university-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 university stakeholder groups, render and implement local policy decisions.

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 (CSU). Today, the CSU is comprised of 22 member universities, including comprehensive and polytechnic universities.

The oldest university - 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. And in 2022, the CSU in Humboldt became California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, joining San Luis Obispo and Pomona as the state’s third public polytechnic university.

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 (CSSA), was founded to represent each university 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.

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. The ADT has since proven to be one of the most effective paths to a CSU for community college transfer students. In 2023, the CSU launched the Transfer Success Pathway program to guarantee future CSU admission to high school graduates who are entering a California community college and who commit to transferring within three years.

Always adapting to changes in technology to support student learning and degree completion, the CSU launched CSU Fully Online, which enables CSU students to complete online courses at other CSUs, 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 professional doctoral degrees. The CSU independently offers Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Doctor of Audiology (AuD), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP),  Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), and Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree programs.  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 2025, the CSU shared a new systemwide strategic plan, CSU Forward: Thriving Students, Thriving University, Thriving California, the system’s most comprehensive and ambitious strategic plan to transform how the CSU defines student success and fulfills its role as California’s most powerful engine of opportunity, economic mobility and inclusive excellence. The strategic plan centers on four performance objectives: economic mobility engine, sustainable affordability, employer of choice and statewide impact.

With the conclusion of the 10-year Graduation Initiative 2025 and the Year of Engagement project, the CSU unveiled a new Student Success Framework to meet the needs of today’s students and achieve new heights of student success. As a companion to CSU Forward, the framework aims to improve opportunity outcome gaps, strengthen career readiness and advance social mobility for all CSU students. By providing an accessible, hands-on education that prepares graduates for career success, the CSU has created a network of alumni so extensive and renowned that it spans across the globe. More than 4 million CSU alumni are making a difference in the lives of the people of California and the world.

Trustees of the California State University

CSU Campuses

Map of All CSU Campuses

A map of all CSU campuses is available online.

The California State University International Programs

Developing intercultural communication skills and international understanding among its students is a vital mission of the California State University (CSU). Since its inception in 1963, the CSU International Programs, a systemwide department operating from within the CSU Chancellor’s Office in Long Beach, California, has contributed to this effort by providing qualified students an affordable opportunity to continue their studies abroad. More than 24,000 CSU students have taken advantage of this unique study option. In addition, CSU International Programs has student exchange agreements with institutions worldwide. California welcomes our international exchange students and values our reciprocal partnerships with top universities around the world.

International Programs participants earn resident academic credit at their CSU campuses while they pursue full-time, yearlong, semester or short term summer program of study at a host university or special study center abroad. The International Programs serves the needs of students in over 100 designated academic majors. Affiliated with more than 70 recognized universities and institutions of higher education in 16 countries, the International Programs also offers a wide selection of study locales and learning environments.

Students pay the same tuition to study abroad as they would at their home campus. CSU IP participants are responsible for all personal costs, such as transportation, room and board, living expenses, and home campus fees. Financial aid, with the exception of Federal Work-Study, is available to qualified students.

California Community Colleges transfer students are eligible to apply directly from their community colleges. Students must also possess a current cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or 3.0, depending on the program for which they apply. Some programs also have language study and/or other coursework prerequisites.

Students can begin to explore study abroad programs, requirements and eligibility on the study abroad brochure pages of this site. Incoming exchange students can begin by reviewing the list of CSU IP exchange partners to ensure their home university is on the list. If it is, students should contact the exchange coordinator at their home institution to understand the selection and admissions processes; if it is not, students are welcome to apply to the California State University as an international student.

Students participating in CSU IP pay CSU tuition and program fees, and are responsible for airfare, accommodations, meals and other personal expenses. Financial aid, with the exception of Federal Work-Study, is available to qualified students and limited scholarship opportunities are also available. All programs require students to maintain good academic and disciplinary standing, many programs are open to sophomores or graduate students. California Community College transfer students are eligible to apply (to select programs) directly from their community colleges. Students must possess a current cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or 3.0, depending on the program, and must fulfill all coursework prerequisites. Additional program information and application instructions can be found on the International Programs Website.