California State University - CSU (reviews)

Great school, emphasizes first gen students. Strong business college. Consider: parking is EXPENSIVE and a MESS. Also a commuter school, so consider joining clubs/ASI/Greek life to become involved on-campus.

My opinion of the entire CSU system is that it provides the best opportunities for first-gen students. I attended CSU Bakersfield and then Fresno State, both public schools that helped me not just develop academically but also professionally.

I graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 2022. I had a wonderful experience there! The campus is large and diverse, full of students and professors from many different backgrounds. If you are looking for a university that will embrace your background and uplift you, CSUF is a great place for that – the school ranked #2 in the nation for social mobility out of over 400 universities listed in the US News & World Report’s 2024 Best Colleges Ranking. The professors at this school care about your educational experience and future career, and there are endless opportunities for involvement. I was able to join a student government commission, hold chair positions in student clubs, conduct research and design my own projects, present at academic conferences, and grow as a leader and a person overall. The myriad of centers on campus are also worth noting, such as the career center and the diversity initiatives resource center. There are always resources, information, and opportunities to make connections with others. In addition to being an aesthetically appealing campus with many nice hangout and study spots and a big library, CSUF is also home to the Fullerton Arboretum, which is a beautiful 26-acre botanical garden featuring plant collections from around the world. I spent a lot of time at the arboretum and it was one of my favorite parts of campus.
Although there is a wide variety of majors, it would be great if more of the departments offered virtual or hybrid classes, especially as students have varying comfort levels with being around large groups of people during the spread of covid-19. During the pandemic I also had some issues with financial aid for my enrollment in online courses from other CSU campuses, which required many emails and phone calls with the various departments to figure out, but in the end my situations were fixed and actually turned out better than I could’ve imagined.
Overall, I would highly recommend this college! I really felt at home on campus. CSUF gave me many amazing opportunities and I will always be glad I chose to go there.

As a transfer student from Los Angeles Community College, I’ve recently embarked on my undergraduate journey at California State University Los Angeles. The professors and staff have provided valuable guidance for my major in communicative disorders and speech pathology. I aim to finish my undergrad at CSULA and pursue a master’s program elsewhere. Though my current experience is just beginning, I believe CSULA will play a crucial role in shaping a solid education plan for my success.