C.S.U, as an acronym, is ubiquitous but popular for representing California State University. The California State University is the largest public university in the United States, comprising 23 campuses and 8 off-campus centres accommodating 486,000 students, employs about 56,000 staff, covering a land area of 800 miles, having about 4 million living alumni.
History recorded it as an individual California state college, then joined as California State University in 1982 by the Donahoe Higher Education Act of 1960, afterwards attached specialized campus such as the Maritime Academy.
Budgeting is funded with general funds, student tuition and fees and funds sourced from philanthropic funds.
The C.S.U is operating with a budget of $7.5 billion for 2024, sourcing $4.2 billion from the state general fund with the remaining sourced from tuition and fee paid by students of the institution.
Tuition paid by students who are residents of California is less compared to that of non-resident.
Also, the C.S.U aeceived funds from philanthropic supports worth $641 million in gift commitment and over $408 million in gifts receipt, rounding up to a total market value of $1.89 billion in 2019-2020.
So, in this article, we will provide all you need to know about the best CSU Schools in 2024, its tuition, and Requirements.
Table of contents
- WHY STUDY AT CSU?
- Hardest C.S.U To Get Into
- Easiest CSU Schools To Enter
- Best CSU Schools For Computer Science
- Best C.S.U Schools For Philosophy
- Best C.S.U Schools 2024
- 1. Stanford University
- 2. California Institute of Technology
- 3. University of California, Los Angeles
- 4. University of California, Berkeley
- 5. University of Southern California
- 6. University of California, Santa Barbara
- 7. University of California, Irvine
- 8. University of California, San Diego
- 9. University of California, Davis
- 10. Pepperdine University
- Conclusion
- References
- Recommendations
WHY STUDY AT CSU?
California state university is an accredited schooling system comprising of top standard universities, colleges and specialized schools such as the maritime academy.
It is not accredited only by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC); it is highly recognized and has passed accreditation from national and international associations and organizations for the quality of education and works done by the institution.
It is rare to come across an institution that gives room to actualizing the dream of bagging a cross-disciplinary degree.
Most programs require you to run a cross-disciplinary degree program to become the best in the field, C.S.U provides one with such opportunity to bring out the best in the individual as a result of the impact from a full study of the required mixture of programs, unlike other institutions where one will be half baked on graduation.
Online programs are not an exception in making the institution the best choice. Most institutions don’t give opportunities for online studies.
The C.S.U gives equal opportunity to students to attain the peak of their educational career, impact skill and knowledge, preparing them to stand out in a competitive workforce over students of other schools in California and beyond.
Graduating about 130,000 qualified and job-ready graduates into the workforce through quality tutorship and mentorship, high standard teaching, helpful scholarship programs and thriving academic programs currently leading the workforce industry.
Also, the C.S.U is dedicated to raising leaders through the staff and students’ commitment to proffering solutions to the issues of the state and nation.
The C.S.U has a well-structured alumni system that serves as a helping system among graduated students. The C.S.U helps improve students’ mental health, making society a better place to live in.
Read this: 20 Best Colleges for Social Sciences in the World | 2024 Rankings
Hardest C.S.U To Get Into
The hardest C.S.U to get into is Stanford University. Stanford University is a private research university founded in 1885 by Leland and Jane Stanford, established in 1891, located in Stanford, California.
Stanford University is highly selective because of many factors that determine the entry difficulty of any university. It has an acceptance rate of 4%.
They are the least of the institution that admits a few out of 49,500 prospective students, admitting only top qualified prospective students who passed the SAT and ACT exams with scores of 1440 to 1570 and 32 to 35, respectively.
The GPA required is 4.18, the school’s tuition is $16,779. All these factors contribute to Stanford University being the hardest C.S.U to gain entry.
Easiest CSU Schools To Enter
The easiest C.S.U SCHOOL to get into is California State University, Stanislaus. The California State University Stanislaus is a public university established in 1957 in Turlock, Stanislaus, California. The institution, aside from offering the usual degrees, offers teaching credentials.
The factors contributing to California State University, Stanislaus being the easiest university to get into, has the highest acceptance rate of 89.3%, admitting many prospective students.
It also admits prospective students who scored between 810 to 1050 SAT score and 16 to 22 ACT score on an average, requiring an average GPA of 2.71 to 3.14.
Best CSU Schools For Computer Science
Computer science is the study of computers and computational systems and algorithm processes to solve complex tasks. It can be classified into two the hardware and software.
Computer science has various scopes or specialities, such as cyber security and network administration, programming and software development, data science and cloud administration, artificial intelligence and hardware engineering.
The best C.S.U for computer science is Stanford University. It is considered the best for computer science because of its excellence in the field, giving room for more practical studies having the best of lecturers in various scopes.
Computer Science is offered from Bachelor to Doctorate level education, the institution graduates highly qualified computer gurus who work with top companies and earn about $130,000, which is double the amount a nominal graduate of computer science earn in the workforce.
Best C.S.U Schools For Philosophy
Philosophy is coined from the Greek word philosophia, meaning the love of wisdom. It deals with ways to solve human problems and general questions to humanity.
The scopes of philosophy include metaphysics, which deals with existence and reality; epistemology, which deals with knowledge and belief, ethics, concerning moral value and logic derive conclusions.
Other popular scopes are philosophy of science, political philosophy, aesthetics etc.
The University of Southern California is one of the best of C.S.U that majors in philosophy. The University of Southern California is a private research university located in Los Angeles, California.
Founded in 1880 by Robert Widney, it is the oldest of the C.S.U private research university.
Degree in philosophy is available from Bachelor to Doctorate level of education, most of her graduates being employed in top organizations with a median salary of about $45,000.
Best C.S.U Schools 2024
Certain factors are being considered when rating the best of C.S.U schools, such as acceptance and graduation rate, alumni earnings, available programs, values, quality of professors, faculty awards, diversity grades, student life, safety and local area factor. The ten best C.S.U schools are buttressed below.
1. Stanford University
Stanford University is a private research institution in suburban California’s Bay Area, about 30 miles from San Francisco, with a size of 8,180 acres.
This University is one of the best CSU schools that offers 69 major programs, running the academic section on a quarter-based calendar.
It has an acceptance and graduation rate of 4% and 94%, respectively. Tuition is about $55,000, relatively moderate in its standard.
Also, you can read this: Top 20 WUE Schools And Amazing Facts About Them
2. California Institute of Technology
California Institute of technology is a private institution that emphasizes science and technology.
It is in Pasadena, California, a suburban area about 11 miles northeast of Los Angeles with a campus size of 124 acres. Hence, it is one of the best CSU schools.
The institution offers 28 major programs, utilizing a quarter-based academic calendar in running the academic session.
The acceptance and graduation rates are 6.4% and 93.2%, respectively. The tuition fee is approximately $56,000.
3. University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles is a public institution located in the Westwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles, covering a land area of 419 acres five miles from the Pacific Ocean. They founded the institution in 1919, having an urban setting.
About 150 programs are being offered, working with a quarter-based academic calendar.
The tuition varies between in-state and out-of-state students amounting to approximately $14,000 and $43,000, respectively. The acceptance and graduation rates are 12.3% and 91.4%, respectively.
4. University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley, sometimes called Cal, is a public institution overlooking the San Francisco Bay, covering a land area of 1232 acres.
The institution, which is one of the best CSU schools, was founded in 1868, having a city setting.
About 130 programs are being offered, working with a semester-based academic calendar.
The tuition varies between in-state and out-of-state students amounting to approximately $14,500 and $44,000, respectively. The acceptance and graduation rates are 16.3% and 91.9%, respectively.
5. University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private institution having its central campus in Los Angeles, covering a land area of 226 acres.
The institution, which is one of the best CSU schools, was founded in 1880, having an urban setting.
A plethora of programs being offered cut across 23 schools and divisions, working with a semester-based academic calendar.
The tuition and fees are approximately $59,500, the acceptance and graduation rates are 12.4% and 91.4%, respectively.
6. University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara is a public institution located 100 miles up the coast from Los Angeles, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, covering a land area of 989 acres.
The institution, one of the best CSU schools, was founded in 1909, in a suburban setting.
About 152 programs are being offered, comprising 87 undergraduate and 55 graduate degree programs, working with a quarter-based academic calendar.
The tuition varies between in-state and out-of-state students amounting to approximately $14,500 and $44,500, respectively.
The acceptance and graduation rates are 29.6% and 82.3%, respectively.
7. University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine is a public institution in Orange County, covering a land area of 1,475 acres.
The institution, one of the best CSU schools, was founded in 1965 in a suburban setting. About 222 programs are being offered, working with a quarter-based academic calendar.
The tuition varies between in-state and out-of-state students amounting to approximately $14,000 and $44,000, respectively. The acceptance and graduation rates are 26.5% and 87.2%, respectively.
Check this: Top 10 Best Colleges for Marine Biology in the World, 2024 | Cost, Requirements
8. University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego is a public institution that lies alongside the Pacific Ocean in the La Jolla community of San Diego, covering a land area of 1,976 acres. The institution was founded in 1960, having an urban setting.
About 125 programs are being offered, working with a quarter-based academic calendar.
The tuition varies between in-state and out-of-state students amounting to approximately $14,500 and $44,500, respectively. The acceptance and graduation rates are 31.5% and 87.2%, respectively.
9. University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis is a public institution located 15 miles from Sacramento, covering a land area of 5300 acres. The institution was founded in 1905, having a city setting.
About 102 undergraduate majors and 101 graduate programs are being offered, working with a quarter-based academic calendar.
The tuition varies between in-state and out-of-state students amounting to approximately $15,000 and $44,500, respectively. The acceptance and graduation rates are 38.9% and 84.6%, respectively.
10. Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is a private institution is, a Christian University located in Malibu, California, covering a land area of 830 acres. The institution was found in 1937, having a suburban setting.
About 45 major and 40 minor programs are being offered, working with a semester-based academic calendar.
The tuition is $58,000. The acceptance and graduation rates are 31.7% and 87.1%, respectively.
Conclusion
In conclusion, California state university is unarguably the largest university system. It provides educational support for all, regardless of your class or status.
It cuts across all courses of study and major in fundamental courses not limited to the undergraduate level but the doctorate level of study.
The institution’s and alumni’s organizational structure is impeccable, comprising of notable individuals. It is undoubtedly a school to dream about.
References
- calstate.edu/csu-system/about-the-csu
- collegefactual.com/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-science/rankings/top-ranked/far-western-us/california/
- collegefactual.com/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/philosophy/rankings/top-ranked/far-western-us/california/
- usnews.com/best-colleges/ca
Recommendations
