California Public Universities
The University of California System
University of California, Los Angeles
Before California joined the Union in 1850, the idea of establishing a University of California was expressed in the first state constitutional convention in Monterey. Unfortunately, due to of lack of funds, this idea could not be realized at that time. As a result, many other private schools and colleges were created. One of these colleges, Contra Costa Academy established in Oakland, California in 1853 eventually became the College of California. In 1863 the Morrill Act granted public lands to any state that would establish a college teaching agriculture and mechanic arts. With California's share of this new land grant determined as 150,000 acres, the legislature took advantage of this and proceeded with plans. The College of California offered up it's campus with a stipulation that would also offer courses in the humanities as well. Thus, The University of California System was born. It was designed to function as a research institution starting with it's first campus, The University of California, Berkeley. Subsequently, 8 more campuses followed serving undergraduates and graduates today. Nine of the UC campuses offer Bachelors, Masters, and doctorates. The only exception is the University of California, San Francisco which functions primarily as a graduate insitution offering only masters and doctorate degrees. Below is a list of all campuses. Click on UC/CSU Requirements for specific admissions criteria.
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Davis
University of California, Irvine
University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Merced
University of California, Riverside
University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Francisco(Graduate Institution only)
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Cruz
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University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Davis
University of California, Irvine
University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Merced
University of California, Riverside
University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Francisco(Graduate Institution only)
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Cruz
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The California State University System
San Jose State University
The California State University System is the largest public institution of higher education in California and in the nation boasting over 400,000 students enrolled in 23 campuses. The CSU system had it's beginnings with Minn's Normal School, a school for teachers in San Francisco in 1857 which was later renamed the California State Normal School (the original site of now San Jose State). In 1862 the governing of this "Normal School" was transferred to the California State legislature once again renaming it the State Normal Schools, adding campuses such as Chico and San Diego. Again, this university system went through many name changes, renamed as Teachers State Colleges in 1921, then the California State Colleges in 1935, and then finally in 1972 becoming the California State University System. It has educated roughly two thirds of the teachers in the state. Every year about 50% of graduates with bachelors degrees in California come from the CSU system. The campuses primarily offers bachelors and masters degree, with a few now offering Ed.D/Ph.d joint programs with the University of California. Click on UC/CSU Requirements for specific admissions criteria.
California Maritime Academy
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California State University, Bakerfield
California State University, Channel Islands
California State University, Chico
California State University, Dominguez Hills
California State University, East Bay
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Monterey Bay
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Sacramento
California State University, San Bernardino
California State University, San Marcos
California State University, Stanislaus
Humboldt State University
San Diego State University
San Francisco State University
San Jose State University
Sonoma State University
California Maritime Academy
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California State University, Bakerfield
California State University, Channel Islands
California State University, Chico
California State University, Dominguez Hills
California State University, East Bay
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Monterey Bay
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Sacramento
California State University, San Bernardino
California State University, San Marcos
California State University, Stanislaus
Humboldt State University
San Diego State University
San Francisco State University
San Jose State University
Sonoma State University
California Community College System:
As a direct result of the California state legislature, the community college system was created in 1967. Originally passed as the Junior College Act in 1917 with the purpose of teaching trades, it has expanded over the years to finally be consolidated into a system in 1967. There are roughly 110 community colleges in California serving 2.9 million students making it the largest public community college system in the world. These community colleges offer many vocational and career technical programs resulting in Associates in Arts and Associate in Science degrees. Student can also take lower division (First and second year college courses) transferable courses allowing students to transfer to a 4- year university.
