California State University
The California State University (CSU) is a public university system established in 1857 in California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. The California State University system headquarters are in Long Beach, California.[1]
The CSU system is composed of 23 campuses and has over 417,000 students supported by 47,000 faculties and staff.[2] It is the largest senior system of higher education in the United States.[3]
CSU prepares about 60 percent of the teachers in the state, 40 percent of the engineering graduates, and more graduates in business, agriculture, communication studies, health, education and public administration than all other California universities and colleges combined. Altogether, about half the bachelor's degrees and a third of the master's degrees awarded annually in California are from the CSU.
Since 1961, nearly 2.5 million alumni have received a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree from the CSU system which offers more than 1,800 degree programs in 240 subject areas.
Campuses
The California State University has 23 colleges. They are listed in order from oldest to newest.
| Campus | Founded | Number of Students[4] | Athletic Division | Athletic Conference | Athletic Nickname |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | 1857 | 33,282 | NCAA Div I (FBS) |
Mountain West | Spartans |
| Chico | 1887 | 17,019 | NCAA Div II | CCAA | Wildcats |
| San Diego | 1897 | 35,081 | NCAA Div I (FBS) |
Mountain West (Pac-12 in 2026) |
Aztecs |
| San Francisco | 1899 | 28,880 | NCAA Div II | CCAA | Gators |
| San Luis Obispo | 1901 | 21,242 | NCAA Div I (FCS) |
Big West Football: Big Sky |
Mustangs |
| Fresno | 1911 | 24,139 | NCAA Div I (FBS) |
Mountain West (Pac-12 in 2026) |
Bulldogs |
| Humboldt | 1913 | 6,983 | NCAA Div II | CCAA | Lumberjacks |
| Maritime | 1929 | 911 | NAIA | CalPac | Keelhaulers |
| Pomona | 1938 | 27,914 | NCAA Div II | CCAA | Broncos |
| Los Angeles | 1947 | 26,361 | NCAA Div II | CCAA | Golden Eagles |
| Sacramento | 1947 | 31,156 | NCAA Div I (FCS) |
Big Sky | Hornets |
| Long Beach | 1949 | 38,074 | NCAA Div I (non-football) |
Big West | The Beach |
| East Bay | 1957 | 14,705 | NCAA Div II | CCAA | Pioneers |
| Fullerton | 1957 | 39,868 | NCAA Div I (non-football) |
Big West | Titans |
| Stanislaus | 1957 | 10,614 | NCAA Div II | CCAA | Warriors |
| Northridge | 1958 | 38,391 | NCAA Div I (non-football) |
Big West | Matadors |
| Dominguez Hills | 1960 | 17,027 | NCAA Div II | CCAA | Toros |
| Sonoma | 1960 | 8,649 | NCAA Div II | CCAA | Seawolves |
| San Bernardino | 1965 | 20,311 | NCAA Div II | CCAA | Coyotes |
| Bakersfield | 1965 | 11,199 | NCAA Div I (non-football) |
Big West | Roadrunners |
| San Marcos | 1989 | 14,519 | NCAA Div II | CCAA | Cougars |
| Monterey Bay | 1994 | 7,123 | NCAA Div II | Otters | |
| Channel Islands | 2002 | 7,093 | None | N/A | Dolphins |
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California State University Media
The California State Normal School, founded in 1862 in San Jose, (today's San Jose State University) is the oldest campus of the CSU system.
- Kendall Hall as seen from Laxson Auditorium-01006.jpg
The Northern Branch of the State Normal School, founded 1887, became California State University, Chico.
- The American system of agricultural education (1904) (17973269710) (cropped).jpg
The California Polytechnic School, established in 1901, eventually became today's California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
- StateNormalSchool1915 (cropped).jpg
San Diego State Normal School, founded 1897, became San Diego State Teacher's College in 1923 (and eventually San Diego State University).
Founded in 1938, the southern campus of the California State Polytechnic School became the independent California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in 1966.
The Cal Poly Maritime Academy was founded in 1929 as the California Nautical School.
- Homecoming in the 1940's at Cal State LA.jpg
California State University, Los Angeles was founded in 1947.
- View of the Sacramento State College campus site, 1947.gif
Aerial view of the future campus of California State University, Sacramento, founded in 1947.
- Crenshaw Imperial Building.jpg
The Inglewood office building which was home to the so-called "imperial headquarters" of the California State Colleges from 1961 to 1965 (photographed 2025).
- CSU Fullerton.jpg
California State University, Fullerton was established in 1957.
References
- ↑ Home Page. California State University. Retrieved on December 6, 2008. Archived 2012-02-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "The California State University homepage". The California State University. 2006-02-13. Archived from the original on 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- ↑ "CSU Facts 2006". The California State University. 2006-06-29. Retrieved 2006-07-30.[dead link]
- ↑ "Fall Term Enrollment". asd.calstate.edu. Archived from the original on 2019-12-02. Retrieved 2020-05-28.